Buckle up for non-stop laughs in the new “The Naked Gun” film. Building off the universe of the Police Squad featuring the late great Leslie Nielsen, “The Naked Gun” has Liam Neeson step into the role of Frank Drebin Jr.. One could not ask for a more perfect casting as the straight man to the absurd world built out by director Akiva Schaffer (“Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” The Lonely Island) and fellow writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.
While the plot of the film is paper thin at best, it jam-packs every minute with jokes. It’s a wonderful reminder that it is possible to make a comedy that is almost entirely gags (and also doesn’t punch down). They’ve managed to keep the spirit of the Drebin family / character alive while also transporting him into a new era. There’s a world in which if they’d tried to map too closely to the original films they would’ve felt antiquated or tasteless, but the filmmakers actually use the cultural shifts in the last almost 40 years to their advantage.
Pamela Anderson is also an inspired casting choice as Beth Davenport. The goofiness and chemistry between the leads feels just right and the role is well within the range of Anderson’s acting chops. Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, and Danny Huston round out the rest of the cast, though be on the lookout for a veritable parade of cameos.
Fans of the original franchise will find nods left and right, though this 2025 “The Naked Gun” can absolutely be enjoyed without any pre-existing knowledge. It will definitely be worthy of a re-watch as you’ll find yourself laughing over half of the jokes (though the sacrifice of having a more substantial plot in favor of jokes might mean that re-watch happens at home versus going to see it in a theater again right away). As a first time viewing it is certainly worth watching in a communal experience with others. It’s a great reminder of the joy of seeing a pure comedy in theaters.
“The Naked Gun” is in theaters August 1, 2025.
