“Guess that’s the last time he’ll trust a cop.” —Jack Colt
Today’s quick review: Loaded Weapon 1. When his ex-partner (Whoopi Goldberg) is killed by an assassin (Tim Curry), Sgt. Wes Luger (Samuel L. Jackson), a by-the-book cop, must team up with Jack Colt (Emilio Estevez), a loose cannon with a hair trigger, to find out why. Their investigation takes them to a cookie factory owned by the sultry Miss Demeanor (Kathy Ireland) where the dastardly General Mortars (William Shatner) is hiding his drugs.
Loaded Weapon 1 is an action comedy starring Emilio Estevez and Samuel L. Jackson. It is a spoof of the action genre that takes aim at buddy cop movies like Lethal Weapon and its sequels. Direct scene-for-scene parodies, slapstick humor, a cavalcade of celebrity cameos, and a surprisingly coherent plot combine to make Loaded Weapon 1 a breezy, entertaining watch for the right viewer. Fans of ridiculous comedy will not want to miss it.
Loaded Weapon 1 has a comparable sense of humor to spoofs like Airplane! or The Naked Gun. The movie dials back the absurdity a little in exchange for sharper parody, putting a comedic spin on the classic scenes of the genre while weaving them together in a way that feels natural. The gags range from idiotic to brilliant, but nearly all of them hit the mark. Moreover, most of the jokes are unexpected, keeping the humor fresh throughout.
Loaded Weapon 1 sets out to do one thing, and it does it well. Solid writing, enthusiastic performances, and a knack for picking the right scenes to parody make it one of the hidden gems of the comedy genre. Fans of 90s action movies, absurd comedies, or any of the movie’s cast will want to give Loaded Weapon 1 a shot. Those who dislike lowbrow humor and pop culture references will want to steer clear.
For another parody in the same vein, try Hot Shots! or Top Secret!. For a modern parody of the action genre, try The Other Guys. For the original material, try the Lethal Weapon series.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for spot-on comedy for the right audience.