The Naked Gun Review: A Laugh-A-Minute Success That Captures And Modernizes The Spirit Of The Original

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Summary

  • The Naked Gun reboot lives up to the original with an excellent deadpan comedic style & goofy visuals.
  • Liam Neeson delivers as Frank Drebin Jr., proving to be a worthy successor to Leslie Nielsen.
  • The movie offers a refreshing comedy experience, and is best seen with a big audience.

The Naked Gun franchise, featuring the hilarious and adored Leslie Nielsen as its lead, is considered one of the greatest comedy series in history, stemming from the brief television show Police Squad!. Over the years, this absurd cop parody has left an indelible mark on comedy enthusiasts. Therefore, when it was announced that a new film would be produced three years ago, there was a noticeable tension, as if everything could potentially fall apart.

Reviving a comedy series after many years can be quite perilous. Key concerns for a production like ‘The Naked Gun’ include whether the tone of the original remains relevant in today’s world, if a new cast member can fill the shoes left by Leslie Nielsen’s remarkable deadpan humor, and if such an attempt could even succeed. Fortunately, this reboot addresses these questions impressively: it retains the original’s essence quite effectively, a new actor does justice to the role, and indeed, the result is another successful installment in the series.

Rescue Rangers,” and his co-writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, have a deep understanding of what makes this series hilarious. They stay true to the original’s formula: physical humor, recurring jokes, deadpan delivery, and visually surprising elements that consistently subvert our expectations.

In this film, humor takes center stage over the storyline, yet it’s still worth briefly discussing. The character Detective Frank Drebin, Jr., played by Liam Neeson (son of Nielsen’s character), is a hothead who gets booted off a bank robbery investigation by his supervisor (CCH Pounder). However, the seemingly ordinary traffic case he is given instead proves to have deeper layers. This case unexpectedly leads him to the deceased’s sister, Beth (Pamela Anderson), and the enigmatic tech magnate Richard Cane (Danny Huston). From the very beginning, The Naked Gun makes it clear that it’s in on the joke. The actual target of the bank heist isn’t money; instead, it’s a mysterious gadget known as the ‘P.L.O.T. Device,’ whose meaning is revealed later on.

In this film, we’ll only unveil one joke in depth; revealing any more would spoil the fun. It might sound conventional now, but it’s crucial to approach The Naked Gun without knowing much. Even if you’ve watched a few trailers, there are still plenty of unexpected elements. Much like the original trilogy, the magic lies in the writing. The humor, jokes, and gags come thick and fast, following the ‘laughs per minute’ principle for comedy. There’s always something funny happening, and no scene leaves you wanting more. Schaffer, Mand, and Gregor squeeze every bit of humor from each moment, ensuring that the 85-minute runtime is packed with non-stop action.

Absolutely, a script’s quality can only be as strong as its performer, and Liam Neeson demonstrates his worthiness to carry on the legacy of Frank Drebin. Throughout his career, Neeson has shown versatility in various roles, such as Oskar Schindler, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Brian Mills from the Taken series. However, Neeson possesses a keen sense for comedy, much like Nielsen before him, knowing that playing it straight often amplifies humor. He occasionally overplays his parts, but only when the scene necessitates it. In many instances, he delivers comedic action sequences with an intensity that Brian Mills himself would envy. The rest of the cast also delivers commendable performances, with Paul Walter Hauser standing out (who is also seen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps), and CCH Pounder excelling at the angry chief character, making it fit seamlessly within the material.

Despite Liam Neeson’s impressive performance, the film’s hidden strength lies in Pamela Anderson. Recently, Anderson has experienced a resurgence with her well-received role in “The Last Showgirl“, and here she delivers an equally captivating performance, at times even outshining Neeson. Their shared scenes brim with a tangible chemistry, both comedic and romantic, complementing the film’s over-the-top visual jokes beautifully. A standout moment is a mid-film montage of a wintry retreat that spirals hilariously out of control, with Neeson and Anderson delivering spectacularly without uttering a single word.

I’ve made clear how hilarious this film is, yet everyone’s humor differs when it comes to comedy. However, this movie’s humor is so expertly crafted that even the tiniest laugh escapes you. I watched The Naked Gun in a crowded press screening and found it delightful to share laughter with so many people. While this doesn’t necessarily reflect the film’s quality on its own, it’s worth noting that the most enjoyable way to watch The Naked Gun is with a big group.

At present, theatrical comedies seem to be a thing of the past, with even highly anticipated sequels like “Happy Gilmore 2” being released unceremoniously on Netflix, despite being their biggest premiere yet. Instead, we’re primarily left with the humor in big-budget blockbusters that straddle the comedy genre while focusing on everything else. Hopefully, the return of “The Naked Gun” can rekindle our love for cinema comedies and remind us why going to see a comedy at the theater is so enjoyable. This new installment in the franchise is definitely worth your time.

The Naked Gun opens in theaters on August 1st.

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2025-07-30 16:07