“The Naked Gun” returns with Liam Neeson as the son of the legendary Lt. Frank Drebin (originally played by the-one-and-only Leslie Nielsen). Our JP give his thoughts on the fourth film, which also stars Pamela Anderson.
The Naked Gun (2025)
Paramount Pictures
- Directed by Akiva Schaffer
- Written by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Akiva Schaffer
- Based on Police Squad! by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker
- Produced by Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins
- Starring Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston
Studio Synopsis:
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.
J.P.’s Take:
What’s that old saying, “dying is easy, comedy is hard.”
So it’s rare that a legacy sequel can reproduce the same zany, dopey comedy as its progenitor. Yet, here we are 37 years later from its 1988 debut — “The Naked Gun” returns to the silver screen and leaving viewers in stitches as they die laughing to the end.
I have to hand it to co-writer / director Akiva Schaffer and his writing partners Dan Gergor and Doug Mand for having the wherewithal to revive the “Naked Gun” film series, after attempts for another sequel with Leslie Nielsen was cancelled in 2009, following the “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” (1994). The proposed sequel would have been a direct-to-TV version titled “The Naked Gun: What 4? Rhythm of Evil,” helmed by Alan Spencer and produced under Paramount. Unfortunately, the original creators of the “The Naked Gun” franchise, Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker, stopped it dead in its tracks.
While a possible sequel bounced around in production hell, sadly, we lost the comedic genius of Nielsen in 2010, who originated the role of Frank Drebin in the short-lived “Police Squad!” (1982) TV series and the big-screen revival, “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!: (1988).
Additionally, there were other reboots slated to be filmed, one in 2013, which would star Ed Helms, and another in 2021, which would be developed by Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane eventually became one of the producers of this 2025 sequel in the end.
Currently, “The Naked Gun” 2025 brings back the nutty, irreverent vibe of comedies that were all the rage in the ’80s and ’90s. Schaffer and his team clearly did their research, as the film is packed with hilarious sight gags and clever double entendres, and it certainly doesn’t skimp on them. You may find in other comedies that it’s a challenge to keep the laughs rolling in, even if it’s a sequel to a classic screwball comedy. However, Liam Neeson (Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., son of Lt. Frank Drebin_ and Pamela Anderson (Beth Davenport) really nail their roles here by delivering their lines with such quick wit that you’ll find yourself laughing so hard it might just give you a cramp in your side. Puns come to life when characters fully embrace them, leading to even more silly moments.
The story is, naturally, a ludicrous comedic playground centered around a fake tech mogul named Richard Cane (Danny Huston), who runs a company that conveniently manufactures self-driving electric cars … hint hint hint. While the narrative completely focusses on how it reaches its ending, you can be sure that it will do so in the most ridiculous manner possible. When the opening scene features Huston’s henchman Sig Gustafson (Kevin Durand) staging a bank heist just to collect a mind-controlling gadget, which happens to be named the P.L.O.T. Device, you know it’s going to be a zany ride.
Joining Neeson and Anderson, the cast features Paul Walter Hauser as Capt. Ed Hocken Jr., Huston as Richard Cane, CCH Pounder as Chief Davis, Kevin Durand as Sig Gustafson, Liza Koshy as Detective Barnes, Eddie Yu as Detective Park, Moses Jones as Nordberg Jr., Cody Rhodes as Bartender, and Busta Rhymes as Bank Robber. Additionally, Priscilla Presley makes a cameo appearance, reprising her role as Jane Spencer-Drebin, the wife of the late Frank Drebin and mother of Frank Drebin Jr. Appearing as themselves are Jon Anik, Michael Bisping, Bruce Buffer, Dave Bautista, and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
From a PG-13 perspective, “The Naked Gun” successfully includes some suggestive scenes, showcasing sexual acts, and a glimpse of Neeson’s bare bottom, all while avoiding being excessively crude or overly raunchy. These moments elicit some hearty laughs in the context of the situation. You might even notice that this sequel nods to its own legacy, and the series as a whole.
I can’t recall too many films that had me laughing non-stop like Neeson’s “The Naked Gun” did. They say laughter is the best medicine, and this comedy was just what I needed, delivering satisfaction from start to finish.
Official Site: The Naked Gun
