In the long-awaited reboot of the classic 1988 comedy, The Naked Gun, Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson bring a chaotic storm of laughs, innuendos, and slapstick brilliance that somehow, against all odds, works incredibly well.
This The Naked Gun review isn’t just another nostalgic sigh about the good ol’ days, it’s a celebration of how reboots should be done.
Producer Seth MacFarlane, known for Family Guy and Ted, teams up with director Akiva Schaffer from the Lonely Island crew to bring back the absurd charm of the original Frank Drebin saga, made legendary by Leslie Nielsen. But this isn’t just a carbon copy. It’s been updated for 2025, cleaned up of the cringe jokes, and delivered in a snappy, gag-packed 85-minute ride that keeps rolling even through the credits.
Liam Neeson steps into some very big shoes, playing Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s iconic character, and he somehow pulls it off with deadpan perfection. Who knew the Taken star had this much comedic range? His straight-faced delivery of outrageous lines lands every time. One standout? When asked how his late wife passed, Neeson’s Drebin replies, “Great. Fifty yards, easy. Arm like a cannon. And then she died.”
Alongside him is Pamela Anderson as Beth Davenport, a mysterious femme fatale with sharp timing and a fearless commitment to being hilariously weird. Anderson has been on a winning streak since The Last Showgirl, and here she dives fully into the role, whether she’s scatting with a jazz band or walking off with Frank’s office chair because he said, “Take a chair.” Her chemistry with Neeson is unexpectedly delightful and keeps the film grounded in absurdity, the way the franchise always thrived.
The plot? Something about a tech mogul named Richard Cane, played deliciously oily by Danny Huston, a suspicious death, and a conspiracy that doesn’t need to make much sense, because it’s just a setup for gags, cameos, and chaos. And oh boy, the cameos are golden. MacFarlane knows his comedy pacing, and the jokes hit fast and frequently, skipping the tired meta-reboot commentary and instead embracing the ridiculousness of it all.
Thankfully, the humor has evolved with the times. Gone are the insensitive jabs from the past. In their place are smarter setups, weirder punchlines, and a whole lot of heart. The Naked Gun might not try to reinvent the slapstick genre, but it sure as hell polishes it for a new generation. The love for the original is clear, but so is the intention to keep things fresh.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the originals or walking into this clueless about who Frank Drebin even is, you’re in for a riot. Liam Neeson crooning a ridiculous ode with lyrics that rhyme “Beth” and “breasts”? Pamela Anderson looking glam while delivering straight-faced nonsense? Yeah, The Naked Gun delivers.
Opening in theaters August 1, this reboot proves not all remakes are doomed. If this is what Hollywood reboots can look like, with real laughs, real effort, and genuinely clever updates, then bring them on.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
