What’s It About

Based on the widely popular comedy franchise The Naked Gun and the television series “Police Squad!” by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. 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.

 MOVIESinMO REVIEW

When you think about Liam Neeson, you probably picture him saving his daughter in “Taken” or making grown men cry in “Schindler’s List.” You definitely don’t think about him cracking jokes while dressed as a little schoolgirl. But that’s exactly what makes “The Naked Gun” reboot so brilliant – it takes everything theatrical about Neeson and turns it completely upside down. This new version brings back all the silly fun from the original 1988 movie, but with a modern twist that actually works. Director Akiva Schaffer knew exactly what he was doing when he cast Hollywood’s toughest action star as the lead in this comedy. The result is pure comedy gold that had me laughing from start to finish. The story follows Frank Drebin Jr., played by Neeson, who is the son of the original bumbling detective. Just like his dad, Junior means well but causes chaos everywhere he goes. The movie kicks off with an awesome action scene where Frank stops a bank robbery while disguised as a little girl with a lollipop. When he rips off his mask and reveals his 6’4″ frame, you immediately know this isn’t your typical cop movie. The plot revolves around something called the P.L.O.T. Device (yes, they’re making fun of how unimportant the actual story is), which gets stolen by bad guys. Frank teams up with his partner Ed Hocken Jr., played by Paul Walter Hauser, to track down the thieves. Along the way, they meet Beth Davenport, a mysterious woman played by Pamela Anderson, who may or may not be helping the villains. What makes this movie special is how everyone plays their roles completely straight. Neeson delivers every ridiculous line with the same serious intensity he brought to dramatic roles. He swallows his coffee, talks tough like every TV cop you’ve ever seen (and is able to make everything funny without ever winking at the camera), and somehow makes it hilarious. It’s like watching someone do Shakespeare while wearing a clown suit. Pamela Anderson does quite well herself; she throws herself into every goofy moment, especially in a jazz singing scene that is so awful it is good. The best part is watching her keep a straight face while doing absolutely ridiculous things. Her chemistry with Neeson creates some genuinely funny romantic moments, especially during a ski trip montage that gets weirder and funnier as it goes on. The movie packs tons of visual jokes and wordplay into its short 85-minute runtime. There are pratfalls, puns, and throwaway lines that come so fast you might miss some on the first watch. The filmmakers clearly studied what made the original trilogy work and added their own modern spin. They make fun of today’s crime shows and action movies while still honoring the spirit of Leslie Nielsen’s classic performance. Danny Huston plays the main villain, a rich tech guy who wants to rid the world of ordinary people. He brings the same menacing energy he’s used in serious movies, which makes his over-the-top evil plans even funnier. The supporting cast all seem to understand the assignment – play it serious even when everything around you is completely insane. The action sequences deserve particular mention; they are actually shot well. The fight scenes are filmed with the same respect for detail as found in an actual action film, with some thoughtful camera work and very intense music. Then Frank picks up a lollipop to use as a weapon or accidentally destroys half the set somewhere along the way, and you find yourself laughing instead of cheering. One thing that has been done well is how the movies avoid throwing heavy references to the original films, you do not have to see the 1988 version to enjoy this one. However, I believe that fans of the previous film will pick up some nice little callbacks. The jokes/puns are not only based on the situations or performances themselves but also come from a place of nostalgia. The writing team of Dan Gregor and Doug Mand clearly understands what makes this type of comedy tick. They’ve created jokes that work on multiple levels – some are obvious sight gags that anyone can enjoy, while others are clever wordplay that rewards careful listening. The pace never lets up, so even when a joke doesn’t land perfectly, there’s another one coming in seconds. At less than 90 minutes, the movie never overstays its welcome. This is smart because this style of rapid-fire comedy can get exhausting if it goes on too long. Instead, it hits you with everything it’s got and leaves you wanting more rather than checking your watch. The production values are solid throughout. The cinematography captures the grittiness of modern crime dramas and the bright, colorful world of classic comedies alike. Lorne Balfe’s score also features some clever musical jokes that heighten some scenes even more. There are slight remembrances of films like Airplane! and Austin Powers that are worth more than 110 minutes of your time. It is the type of comedy that is best when shared; when possible, go see it in theatres with an audience. There’s something about group laughter that is pretty magical. Obviously, if The Naked Gun can teach us anything, there will always be a spot for well-made comedies in theatres. After an extended run of serious dramas and superhero flicks, sometimes all you need is to see Liam Neeson accidentally demolish a coffee shop in his extravaganza to play the hero. It’s silly, it’s smart, and it’s exactly the kind of fun movie we need more of these days.

OUR RATING – A NAKED 7.5

MEDIA

• Genre – Comedy
• Street date
• Digital – September 2, 2025
• 4K/BluRay/DVD – ‎ November 11, 2025
• Video – 1080p
• Screen size 2.39:1
• Sound – English: Dolby Atmos, English Audio Description, Czech, French, French (Canada), German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Latin America), Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles – English, English SDH, French, French, (Canada), German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish (Spain/Latin America), Cantonese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Hungarian, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish

Extras

• A Legacy of Laughter (HD 8:57)
• Son of a (Naked) Gun (HD 5:59)
• The Really Unusual Suspects (HD 4:22)
• On Set of a Set Within a Set That’s in a Set (HD 3:42)
• Dropping the Balls (HD 3:26)
• Outtakes (HD 12:28)
• Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes (HD 16:32)