Ryan Harrison is framed for murder and must prove himself innocent by finding a mysterious one-eyed, one-armed, one-legged man after escaping from a bus accident on the way to jail.
“Wrongfully Accused” marks a bygone era wherein zany spoof films were still popular and widely released in theaters. Leslie Nielsen was a brilliant performer with his deadpan delivery and timing amongst over the top scenarios and absurd dialogue. This time around, instead of inept police officers and procedurals, the screenplay parodies 1993’s “The Fugitive” starring Harrison Ford.
Ryan Harrison (Leslie Nielsen) is The Lord of the Violin, introduced goofily leading an orchestra. There’s plenty of gags involving Ryan shooting his bow into the audience, obliviously injuring his fellow musicians, and other silly moments. Some ideas are humorous and others feel dated. One scene involving a woman in the theatre’s gallery mimicking fellatio on a cigar reminded me how cartoonishly horny movies were in the ’90s. Much like “The Mask,” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” there was a bizarre crossover with looney tunes antics and eye-bulging eroticism.
The woman who was very intimate with her cigar introduces herself as Lauren Goodhue (Kelly LeBrock). Lauren and Ryan begin a ridiculous affair that ends up with him being framed for the murder of her husband Hibbing (Michael York). While Ryan is awaiting his fate in the courtroom, the judge sentences him to death “Buffet Style,” which includes lethal injection, the electric chair, and being shot by a firing squad. He gets on a large prison bus with the destination sign reading “Miami Beach” rotating to “Hellish Prison,” Onboard, a prison guard is miming an airline attendant instructing safety measures for takeoff. I laughed a lot when the loudspeaker said “please keep your handcuffs securely fastened, or you will be shot.” The acting by this guard is brilliantly done and probably the highlight of the film.
Lieutenant Fergus Falls (Richard Crenna) is satirizing Tommy Lee Jones’ iconic, fast-talking US Marshall role. Crenna is equally excellent as Nielsen delivering funny lines like “this case has more twists and turns than Chubby Checker in a blender,” while barely blinking or smirking.
About halfway through the second act, I felt assaulted by the endless barrage of jokes. Although it’s overstuffed to the point of overkill, I laughed more than I expected to. I’ll always enjoy “The Naked Gun” franchise but I think these parody genres are a thing of the past aside from a potential “Austin Powers” reboot. Satire and parody can be a useful political tool to subvert ideas but a comical rehash of an entire film’s storyline isn’t compelling.
Now available on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment
