The Naked Gun Review - Stupid, absurd and all the better for it

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“Like a blind man at an orgy, I was going to have to feel my way through.”   - Frank Drebin

Some people are just born to do what they do. Michael Jordan couldn’t have been anything else but the best basketball player ever; Tom Brady the best (American) football player. Dave Chappelle as one of the best stand up comedians ever. Some people make what they do look practically effortless through their impossible skill. Of course they spend their entire careers honing their craft but the end result, on the field, the court, or under the spotlight with a mic, is nothing short of remarkable every single time. It’s why we buy their jerseys and speak of their accomplishments as if they’re superheroes saving the day. We revere their quick wit and ability to make light of pretty much any situation imaginable as they not only give us the chance to laugh but they often stand at the precipice of what is funny and what is not. They are the pioneers of comedy, the epitome of their sport, or the best in their era on the silver screen. Someone like Leslie Nielsen.

Here was a man that found humor in the serious. By remaining deadpan he carved a career of beautiful absurdity. From his legendary turn as Dr. Rumack in Airplane! to the endlessly hilarious Lt. Frank Drebin of the Police Squad, Nielsen was a talent like no other. His straight faced approach in contrast to such preposterous situations will remain at the peak of comedic cinema. So when he died, it seemed so too did the idea of absurdist comedy. While movies like Scary Movie and Austin Powers came along, the true heroes of this medium, masters like Nielsen, the Zucker Brothers, Mel Brooks, and the Monty Pythons, were a thing of the past. In our future was a generation of people unable to laugh at themselves or anyone else for that matter. 

Far more than “Did you see [insert comedy here]?” these days you hear “Why don’t they make comedies anymore?” Or “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” And it’s true. Somehow, a generation of people raised on The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy have grown into thin-skinned, professionally outraged crybabies. And when you can’t find the desire to laugh anymore, the genre inevitably begins to wither. But every so often someone comes along to save the genre from certain death. In the 2000’s to mid 2010’s it was Apatow and his crew, and Adam McKay and his posse. But the glory days of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Step Brothers have concluded as well. So the question arises – Who will step forward and save comedy movies all over again? If I said to you Liam Neeson and ⅓ of The Lonely Island would make the attempt you might not believe it. But here we are, in 2025, the age of dipshits in the white house. Anything is possible. In this case it’s a good thing I swear. Speaking of the aforementioned stupidity in a suit, laughter has never been more needed than right now. 

We have lost our way, maybe we can learn to laugh about it at least. I give you The Naked Gun, written and directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring the world’s most serious action hero, Liam ‘I have a very particular set of skills’ Neeson. When word first got out that Neeson was considering the role of Drebin Jr. I was instantly on board. I could clearly imagine his approach to the role and I knew he could absolutely nail the role. He had already given his audition as the nameless customer hoping to buy a box of Trix cereal from an anthropomorphic teddy bear in Ted 2. It is the perfect example of what a Naked Gun movie starring Liam Neeson could be and now I have proof. I was right. He’s perfect as the deadpan, incompetent Drebin Jr. Just like his daddy. 

Perhaps one of its greatest strengths is the career trajectory of Neeson after he first starred in Taken. Once he proved himself capable as an action hero, it almost became a joke in and of itself that he’s been in so many forgettable action movies playing the exact same character every time. A majority of these movies are genuinely terrible but it’s clear they were laying the groundwork for something greater. Not only is he at his most Liam Neeson in this movie, he expands upon what he’s best known for with numerous moments that show him in an entirely new light. A light that shows him perfectly capable as a comedic powerhouse willing to make himself the butt of every joke as long as it better serves the movie as a whole. He is a selfless performing clown as Drebin and it’s unbelievably funny. But thankfully he isn’t the only one holding the comedic weight as his eclectic supporting cast are perfect in their respective roles. Particularly the gorgeous and reemerging Pamela Anderson. As the civilian counterpart to Neeson’s Drebin, Anderson is unceasingly funny and perfectly serious in what is likely her least serious role ever. Together, Neeson and Anderson shine as a dorky duo trying to uncover the secrets behind an alleged automobile accident riddled with suspicious clues. 

At their aid is the burgeoning Paul Walter Hauser as Drebin’s partner and son to former Captain of Police Squad, Ed Hocken. He is preposterous in all the right ways from suffering from Drebin Jr’s ineptitude to his own incompetence handing out free beer to minors and seemingly every drunk fight fan in the vicinity. A real surprise for anyone familiar with popular Youtubers, flourishing internet personality Liza Koshy has a sizable role holding her own among some of the best in the business. I am so happy she’s finally getting recognition for her natural comedic abilities. I’ve always thought she would become a significant presence in this genre and here she is shining bright. 

The premise is ridiculous, almost irrelevant, always going for the joke even when the jokes are so random it makes you laugh out of confusion. Sometimes the jokes are such deep cuts it almost loses you for a moment as you try to catch up. At one point or another this movie mentions everything from the Janet Jackson Super Bowl controversy to the apparent superiority of Black Eyed Peas, Fergie included. It revels in the absurdity of randomness rarely concerning itself with if it works and more with a heads up to us as the audience that they are throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. Watch your heads!

The Naked Gun had every reason to fall short. The shadow of the original films, the star of those classics, and the lack of humor currently plaguing our society. We would have watched it, laughed some I’m sure and stocked it up to a nothing kind of misfire and moved on rarely ever thinking of it again. I knew Neeson would be great but anticipated everything around him being hopelessly dumb, and not in a good way. To be clear, it needed to be dumb, but it had to be clever about it, self aware and willing to make fun of anything and anyone without fear of repercussions. And you know something? They did it. It’s so wonderfully silly and without any agenda beyond making us laugh. It is a pure comedy, nothing else to prove and everything to gain by just going for it and much to my surprise, the fourth entry into the Naked Gun franchise is every bit worthy of the name. Nielsen would be proud. 

Rated PG-13 For: crude/sexual material, violence/bloody images and brief partial nudity

Runtime: 85 minutes

After Credits Scene: Mid and End. Stay put. 

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston

Directed By: Akiva Schaffer

Out of 10

Story: 7/ Acting: 9/ Directing: 8.5/ Visuals: 9

OVERALL: 9/10

Buy to Own: Yes.

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Check out the trailer below: