The Naked Gun (2025) – A Delightfully Absurd Comedy Reboot!

In the pantheon of big screen spoofs, The Naked Gun franchise is a heavy hitter. With three films and a six episode tv series, “Police Squad,” the Leslie Nielsen led comedies left a legacy that many thought should never be touched by a modern day reboot. However, rumors of a remake/reboot have been circling the film industry for years. When Liam Neeson was announced to step into the role of Frank Drebin Jr. in February of 2024, the response was mixed to say the least.

However, as the first looks started to roll out, the unthinkable began to happen… the movie actually looked good! Not only did the movie look good, the trailers made it look great. But, trailers can be deceiving and the movie going audience has be disappointed by great marketing before. So the question is, is the movie worth seeing?

The short answer… a resounding yes! Let’s get into this review by taking a look at the synopsis and the cast.

The Synopsis:

Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father’s footsteps in THE NAKED GUN, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy). Joining the case are cast Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, with Danny Huston.

What Worked:

First and foremost, this movie made sure to remember what makes this franchise so beloved in the first place; it never takes itself too seriously. The best word to use to describe this film is “Absurd,” which is exactly what it needed to be. The visual gags and constant stupidity of Neeson’s character made this feel like a true successor to the original series. Every scene is so loaded with background jokes that it is impossible to catch them all on the first viewing. From the moment the movie started to the moment the final credits finished, my auditorium was full of joyous laughter.

While this movie ensured that it maintained the tone and identity of the original, it also wasn’t bogged down with references to those films. Of course, there are call backs and cameos, but they never took away from the story being told or the characters being introduced.

Of course this movie would not have worked so well without a stellar cast to carry the story. Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson have tremendous chemistry and work off of one another perfectly. Paul Walter Houser manages to steal every scene he is in, which is a feet considering the screen partners he has in this movie. Finally, Danny Huston cannot be beat as an over the top billionaire villain. Neeson’s ability to say these ridiculous lines with a straight face makes each one that much more amusing. The interplay between Neeson’s funny man and Huston’s straight man led to some of my favorite scenes.

What Didn’t Work:

This section is going to be very brief. I have only one major complaint and that is as the third act kicked into gear, the film began to drag for only a few minutes. That’s it, a minor pacing issue is all that keeps this movie from being perfect.

Overall Grade 9/10

What a wonderful surprise this movie was. As a massive fan of the Naked Gun franchise, I was very concerned going in that this would be another failed reboot. Imagine my delight when I walked out of the theater, grinning from ear to ear. Wonderful writing, a brilliant cast, and a devotion to the silly make this a must-see comedy event!

Have you seen The Naked Gun? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!