Liam Neeson's "The Naked Gun" Tells Audiences to Embrace the Ridiculous

[The following review is spoiler-free]

David Zucker's 1988 film, The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad is a towering legend in the world of comedy. Starring then dramatic actor, Leslie Nielsen as Detective Frank Drebin, the film not only left audiences roaring with laughter, but completely changed Nielsen's career, as well as sparking two follow-up films. Nearly four decades later, Detective Drebin is back in the form of his son, played by Oscar nominee, Liam Neeson. Introducing a whole new generation to the comedic stylings of The Naked Gun.

As someone who is a big fan of the original Naked Gun films, I had my reservations about the remake, and I was far from alone. That is, until it was revealed that it would be directed by Akiva Schaffer, who you might know as a member of the musical comedy group, The Lonely Island. Schaffer also worked as both writer and producer on the reboot, making it the first Naked Gun film without any involvement from creator, David Zucker, which is precisely the reason why fans were so apprehensive.

Just from the trailers it was clear that the reboot would adhere very close to the style of the original. Both in terms of the deadpan, absurdist comedy and the casting of a famous dramatic actor in such a blatantly comedic role. Audiences have gotten to know Liam Neeson as an actor over the course of his nearly five decade long career, mostly for his roles in Schindler's List, Star Wars, and Taken, but we've never seen him try his hand at a comedy quite like this. Fans of David Zucker's original trilogy will be pleased to know that Neeson takes this extremely risky role and soars, just like Leslie Nielsen. The same thing goes for Pamela Anderson, who plays main love interest, Beth. Under the direction of Akiva Schaffer, the two absolutely shine on screen.

If you told someone in the nineties that the fourth Naked Gun film would be led by Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, they would've thought you were crazy. It's incredible to see how the two have evolved over the course of their careers.

At no point in The Naked Gun does the comedy feel forced or dated, which is a real accomplishment when the last installment came out over thirty years ago. At the same time, it also doesn't feel like the cast and crew were trying too hard to appeal to modern humor, they trust the material and know that it will be appreciated by all generations.

As a director, Akiva Schaffer fully understands what made the original trilogy so entertaining, it never took itself seriously. It doesn't pretend to be high-brow or auteur, the script fully embraces the stupidity of its humor. It literally starts with Liam Neeson disguised as a school girl, slashing through robbers with a sharpened lollipop. Most of the time it feels like you're watching a live-action cartoon, which isn't something you see very often in comedy films anymore. 2025's The Naked Gun has a style that's entirely its own and its abundantly clear while watching just how much affection Schaffer has for the original films. Perhaps the very best scene in the movie is the climactic fight scene set to none other than Fergie's "Fergalicious." A sequence that simply has to be seen to be believed. I'm seriously considering buying another ticket just to rewatch it.

So to fans of David Zucker's original trilogy, have no fear, Frank Drebin is in good hands! Overall, 2025's The Naked Gun is a great option for your next trip to the movies!