NAKED GUN, THE
(director/writer: Akiva Schaffer; screenwriters: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand; cinematographer: Brandon Trost; editor: Brian Scott Olds; music: Lorne Balfe; cast: Liam Neeson (Frank Drebin, Jr.), Pamela Anderson (Beth Davenport), Paul Walter Hauser (Ed Hocken, Jr.), CCH Pounder (Chief Davis), Kevin Durand (Sig Gustafson), Cody Rhodes (Bartender), Liza Koshy (Det. Barnes), Eddie Yu (Det. Park), Michael Beasely (Det. Tailor), Danny Huston (Richard Cane); Runtime: 85; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: Erica Huggins; Paramount Pictures; 2025)
“Good for at least a few laughs.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A goofball action comedy reboot of the Naked Gun franchise started in 1980 with “Airplane.” It’s directed and written by Akiva Schaffer (“Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”/”The Watch”), and co-written with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. It has more swings and misses than hits for its deadpan humor spoof on L.A. cop action pics. But it has moxie, a few engaging sight gags, a funny running gag over cups of coffee, lots of rapid fire jokes, and a vulgarian humor that’s good for at least a few laughs. It’s based on the short-lived Police Squad! television series set in L.A., in 1982, when Leslie Nielson was given the starring role.
Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) plays the son of Lt. Frank Drebin, who was played by the late Leslie Nielson (died in 2010). His reliable partner is Captain Ed Hocken Jr. (Paul Walter Hauser), who was played by George Kennedy.
The cop duo investigate the suicide and possible murder of a man found dead at the wheel of his high-tech electric car. The death was reported by his sister, the true-crime fictional writer Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson). The vic worked for the sinister wealthy genius inventor of the car, the Elon Musk-like Richard Crane (Danny Huston). The widower Frank and the single Beth will be drawn romantically to each other during the investigation of trying to stop Crane from executing his diabolical plan to take over the world.
It’s a disposable but well-made pic by the new franchise director that captures the punchy spirit of David Zucker’s many popular sequel franchise films. If you have no problem with a shallow and pointless film made in bad taste but is entertaining, you should enjoy this briskly paced pop culture iconic one. Action and drama star Liam Neeson proves he can do deadpan comedy, but not do it as well as the more natural comedian Nielson.

dennisschwartzreviews.com
REVIEWED ON 8/4/2025 GRADE: B-