Wrongfully Accused

PG-13

Released Jul 23, 1998

1 hr. 25 min.

Comedy

List

18%

33 Reviews

Tomatometer

56%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Art patron Hibbing Goodhue (Michael York) is murdered, and an accident-prone concert violinist, Ryan Harrison (Leslie Nielsen), is arrested as the main suspect. Harrison didn't do it, but he's convicted of the crime. He's on the bus that will take him to prison, but he manages to escape after a traffic accident. On the run, Harrison tries to clear his name by seeking out the real killer, while the police, led by Lt. Fergus Falls (Richard Crenna), hunt him down.

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Critics Consensus

Wrongfully Accused of being a comedy worthy of Leslie Nielsen's involvement, this misbegotten spoof might have fewer laughs than the straight-faced thriller that inspired it.

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Jeff M

It's one of the great mysteries of my movie-going existence how movies so similar can be do drastically different in quality. This movie is basically THE NAKED GUN with a different plot. Same lead actor, same type of over-the-top comedy, often amazingly similar sight gags... So how can THE NAKED GUN be a comic masterpiece while this is often painfully unfunny? I suppose it's all about catching lightning in a bottle. If I were to venture a hypothesis, I think movies like this try too hard to make the jokes work, while movies like the aforementioned NAKED GUN and most certainly AIRPLANE!... well, it just seem to flow like a well-oiled machine. Nielsen is a master at the genre, and the moments that do work here are mostly due to him, although there are scenes where he is trying way too hard. I did catch myself laughing out loud from time to time (a bit involving a muted TV particularly caught my fancy for some reason), but I found myself groaning, or stone faced, for most of the proceedings. Crenna is a wonderful, wonderful actor but he should never be allowed to do this type of movie again. I suppose the one good thing about this movie is that it makes me long to grab my DVD of THE NAKED GUN and watch it for the kajillionth time.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Andy B

I wouldn't give Leslie Neilson less than 2 stars but he couldn't save this rip off of his other satirical comedies and minus the genius of the Zuckers and Abraham. Leslie does his usual with the material given but to no avail.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

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Kim T

Plenty of laughs in this Leslie Nielsen film with parodies of films like mission impossible, brave heart and the fugitive. If you're looking for a laugh this is your film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/28/23

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KilznaH 46

This moving is so stupid funny I can't stop laughing. Love Leslie Nielsen. Comedy Gold

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/23

Full Review

gergana k

I love movies of that man. They are big fun for me. Of course it is matter of taste

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Saw this in theaters and now watch it at least six times a year. Any haters don't know true comedy… I'm as sure as that as I am that that's an anaconda.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

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Pat Proft

Director

Leslie Nielsen

Ryan Harrison

Richard Crenna

Lt. Fergus Falls

Kelly LeBrock

Lauren Goodhue

Melinda McGraw

Cass Lake

Michael York

Hibbing Goodhue

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Leonard Klady

Variety

The best gags pop up in the closing credits, which should tell you something about what precedes the finale.

Jun 17, 2008

Full Review

John Haslett Cuff

Globe and Mail

Even the audience at the free promotional screening was hard-pressed to find many genuine laughs in this purportedly comic abomination.

Jul 12, 2002

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a lesser entry within Nielsen’s catalogue of parody films.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 16, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Several of the supporting actors take their parts somewhat seriously, which makes Nielsen's incredibly over-the-top performance just that much more hilarious.

Rated: 4/10

Sep 25, 2020

Full Review

Sandra Contreras

TV Guide

There's something tired and rotten about this Fugitive send-up right from the start.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 17, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

Art patron Hibbing Goodhue (Michael York) is murdered, and an accident-prone concert violinist, Ryan Harrison (Leslie Nielsen), is arrested as the main suspect. Harrison didn't do it, but he's convicted of the crime. He's on the bus that will take him to prison, but he manages to escape after a traffic accident. On the run, Harrison tries to clear his name by seeking out the real killer, while the police, led by Lt. Fergus Falls (Richard Crenna), hunt him down.

Director: Pat Proft
Executive Producer: Gary Barber , Martin Moszkowicz , Robert L. Rosen
Screenwriter: Pat Proft
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo , Warner Bros.
Production Co: Morgan Creek Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 13, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.6M
Sound Mix: SDDS , Dolby Digital , DTS , Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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