Film Review: ‘The Naked Gun’ is a Worthy and Hilarious New Installment of the Classic Comedy Franchise

It would have been so easy for The Naked Gun to not work. The original trilogy, which began with The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! in 1988, is very much of a time and a place. We don’t really get slapstick comedies or spoofs much anymore, let alone in theaters. All of it adds up to a film that easily could have fallen flat. Instead, the movie manages to work even better due to the dearth of its kind (though I recently binged all three of the original flicks and they’re easily three of the funniest comedies ever made, so do yourself a favor and revisit them, just purely for pleasure). I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard and this consistently in a theater. It’s an absolute riot.

The Naked Gun honors what’s come before while also having a slightly more modern sensibility. It’s hilarious from start to finish, managing to keep the manic pace going, even while progressing its plot. There’s a commitment to doing this right that, frankly, I did not expect to see. I’m a recent convert to the church of Leslie Nielsen, and while he’s irreplaceable, they sure found a way to not have our new hero feel like a pale imitation. Somehow, this all just works, hilariously so.

Detective Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) has followed in the footsteps of his father and is a member of Police Squad, foiling a robbery as we meet him in very much the same style as his dad. He’s not the only legacy hire at Police Squad, as his partner is Ed Hocken Jr. (Paul Walter Hauser). When a suspicious death puts him in contact with the victim’s sister Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), Frank is smitten. Not only is there the potential for love, he’s also stumbled upon his biggest and most dangerous case yet.

As he investigates clearly evil tech mogul Richard Cane (Danny Huston), Frank bumbles his way around, causing all manner of chaos. The story truly is secondary to the jokes, but as is the case with this franchise, the villain does have a comedically big plan being put into motion. No one would be able to stop it, well, no one except for Frank Drebin and Police Squad!

Liam Neeson is so funny here, never needing to imitate Nielsen to capture the spirt of what playing Frank Drebin (or his son) requires. What he does with the role honors the past, to be sure, all while being funny in his own way. Neeson is even poking fun at his recent run of action flicks. Pamela Anderson shows some great comedic instincts, playing things straight in the exact way this franchise calls for. Anderson and Neeson have comedy chemistry, to be sure, but also just chemistry in general. Paul Walter Hauser has some funny moments but doesn’t get too much to do (George Kennedy was better served in the role during the prior movies), while Danny Huston is having fun with his intentionally cliched villain role. Supporting players here include Kevin Durand, CCH Pounder, Cody Rhodes, Busta Rhymes, and more, including a person or two from the original films.

Co-writer/director Akiva Schaffer knows the assignment and attacks it with gusto. Penning the screenplay with Dan Gregor and Doug Mann, Schaffer is relentless in peppering in jokes, very much in the series’ style. The subjects are often different, but the execution and feel is the same, which is the important thing. Visually, there’s lots of fun going on in the background, even if Schaffer’s direction here isn’t going to net him awards attention. Clocking in at 85 minutes with credits (the credits are very funny, BTW) is also a godsend. Well paced and knowing that the key is to make everyone laugh and get out while the audience is still in stitches, the flick achieves what few comedies these days even attempt.

The Naked Gun deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the original trilogy. It’s the funniest film of the year, potentially revives a dormant franchise, and could even re-launch an entire style of cinematic comedy. Well, it may, provided that it finds an audience during its theatrical run. So, not only is this movie a 2025 highlight, it’s essential viewing. Get out and see it. Just be prepared to laugh…a lot!

SCORE: ★★★1/2