National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 Content: -2 1/2

National Lampoon's attempt at a parody of popular action movies comes up a little short. Wes Luger (Samuel L. Jackson), a by-the-book detective, is teamed with Jack Colt (Emilio Estevez), a burned-out, gun-happy undercover cop. Their mission is to expose General Mortars (William Shatner), who uses Wilderness Girls cookies to sell cocaine. In their quest, Luger and Colt exaggerate and make fun of action scenes from CHiPs, DIE HARD, HOT SHOTS, STAR TREK and even SILENCE OF THE LAMBS' cannibalistic villain. They also poke fun at the notorious interrogation scene from BASIC INSTINCT. In a scene discussing scars and past experiences, Jack pulls off a false arm and opens his chest to reveal a squirrel cage with the comment "cheap transplant." Those who enjoy this genre may have fun recognizing the various references, but the action doesn't lift the low quality humor.

Like the movies it makes fun of, LOADED WEAPON has lots of gun shooting, explosions and fights. The opening scene of Colt and two robbers at a convenience store shows them shooting mostly stock, but it still produces dead bodies. There are many crude references to sexual behavior peppered with puns and double meanings. A puppet used in the interrogation scene alludes to slang words for genitals. Along with these elements are dialogue littered with obscenities, ethnic jokes, excessive alcohol drinking and drug dealing. In our view, LOADED WEAPON's bathroom humor and excessive violence make it a waste of time and money.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: NewLine Cinema, 575 8th Avenue, 16th Flr, NY, NY 10018