[Rating: Rock Fist Way Up]
Folks, who would have guessed in 2025 that a comedy that hits with joke after joke could be one of the funniest movies in recent memory. That’s just what The Naked Gun does, and does it so successfully, it had me thinking about it way past even seeing it.
This is not a remake of any sorts, thank goodness, but instead a follow up to the classic 80s hit that had audiences roaring with laughter at the late Leslie Nielsen’s hijinks. Now, Liam Neeson of all people gets to step into the police squad to stop the bad guys and scarf down a few chili dogs in the process!
Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Neeson) follows in his fathers footsteps at the police squad. Likewise, his partner Ed Hocken Jr. (Paul Walter Hauser) bumbles along with Frank as straight man to his shenanigans with the ever looming threat from Chief Davis (CCH Pounder) to close the department. Drebin stops a bank robbery and soon finds himself attached to a linked murder case of a software engineer.
The person murdered is the brother of femme fatale Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), a crime novelist who believes her brother’s death was no accident, but a cover up to something far more sinister. Could his murder be the work of Richard Cane (Danny Huston), an Elon Musk-esque techno giant who employed Davenport’s brother? Cane has his own plans at world domination with the use of a “P.L.O.T. Device” that would make any tech user a brainless violent person.
Meanwhile, like any good noir Drebin and Davenport strike up a romance of their own, plus a sexy snowman.
I laughed till I couldn’t breathe. That statement feels like such a cliche when it comes to funny movies, but literally this movie had me gasping for air! Small little quips and quick background scenes that you really have to focus on really add on to the laughs in this. In one scene a snowman is involved in what can only be described as a side plot to Neeson and Anderson that feels so much like a Family Guy cutaway (cue co-producer Seth MacFarlane).
Director Akiva Schaffer once again (after Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) delivers such a remarkable laugh riot. Neeson and Anderson have such stellar chemistry in this, you’d think they’d be doing this all their lives. Neeson in particular is known for such tough guy roles that are all serious that I really want him to do more roles of this nature. And kudos to the filmmakers of not taking Leslie Nielsen’s image and making him into some A.I. monster.
Yes, if you need a laugh or two or millions, take a trip to see The Naked Gun. It reminds me of how much comedy is one of my favorite genres, and so rare these days to get a genuine laugh-out-loud experience.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
Comments on this entry are closed.