When the news broke that Liam Neeson would star in a new Naked Gun movie, there was a real mix of curiosity and dread. Rebooting a beloved classic, especially one so tied to a very specific type of comedy, is always a risky business. The original Naked Gun films, which grew out of the brilliant but short-lived Police Squad! TV series, are treasured comedies. Their silly humour, rapid-fire visual gags and Leslie Nielsen’s famously deadpan delivery, are practically sacred to fans of the franchise. So naturally, many feared this new version would do nothing but tarnish that legacy.
Amazingly, those fears have turned out to be mostly unfounded. In its new incarnation, The Naked Gun manages to stay remarkably true to the franchise and its unique brand of absurdist humour. It’s a comedy that feels both lovingly retro and impressively fresh, thanks in no small part to the cast’s dedication and the filmmakers’ clear affection for the original films.
Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s iconic character. This is a clever choice that avoids a straight remake while still connecting with long-time fans. Neeson, known mostly for his earlier dramatic and more recent action roles, might have seemed an odd fit at first. But just like Nielsen, his stern, serious demeanour turns out to be the perfect counterpoint to the film’s relentless silliness. He never winks at the camera or lets on that he’s fully in on the joke. He manages to cleverly play it completely straight, and that’s exactly what makes it so funny.
Opposite Neeson is Pamela Anderson, who plays Beth, a glamorous and comically over-the-top romantic interest, following the tradition of the series’ femme fatales. Anderson, too, might have raised eyebrows when her casting was announced, but she delivers a performance that is both self-aware, and genuinely funny. Her timing is sharp, her delivery is surprisingly deadpan, and her chemistry with Neeson is the cherry on top. They play off each other beautifully—he the stiff, oblivious cop; she the sly, seductive wildcard. There’s a warmth and playfulness in their scenes that lifts the comedy without ever becoming sentimental.
The film is packed with the kind of absurd visual gags, literal wordplay, and ridiculous set pieces fans expect. Crucially, it maintains an incredibly high joke-per-minute ratio, echoing the dense comedic style that made the originals so beloved.
There’s no doubt the film owes much of its success to the direction by Akiva Schaffer and the production guidance from Seth MacFarlane. Their respect for the source material is clear, and they never try to modernise the humour in a way that loses what made it special. Instead, they find new ways to deliver the same kind of laughs—sometimes groan-worthy, often clever, always absurd.
Ultimately, this Naked Gun revival is a rare kind of reboot: one that truly understands the original, honours its tone, and manages to deliver something that stands on its own. Liam Neeson is genuinely perfect in the role, expertly balancing parody with sincerity, while Pamela Anderson proves a surprisingly ideal match. The movie could have been a disaster—but instead, it’s a joyfully ridiculous, surprisingly effective return to one of comedy’s most delightfully nonsensical franchises.
