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It’s been over 30 years since Lt. Frank Drebin last walked the beat, delivering rapid-fire one-liners and crashing through chaos with a badge and a blank stare. Now, in The Naked Gun (2025), the beloved spoof franchise returns with a new Drebin, Frank Jr., to be precise, played with surprising finesse and a deadpan straight face by none other than Liam Neeson. Yes, that Liam Neeson… Taken‘s Liam Neeson… and against all odds, it works.
Helmed by comedy veteran Akiva Schaffer (Palm Springs, MacGruber), this spiritual sequel-reboot hybrid doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it steers full throttle into absurdity, offering an 88-minute barrage of sight gags, puns, pratfalls, and double entendres that feel ripped from the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker playbook. If you’re wondering whether Neeson can land a punchline the way he lands terrorists in the Taken franchise, rest assured, he nails it. His Frank Jr. is as determined and oblivious as his old man, marching headfirst into increasingly ridiculous situations with absolute sincerity.
The plot? Sure, there is one. But analyzing it too closely would be like critiquing the physics of an SNL short. Frank Jr. is following in his father’s not-so-heroic footsteps as an elite but inept lawman, now partnered with Ed Hocken Jr. (a perfectly cast Paul Walter Hauser, whose mix of wide-eyed loyalty and bumbling energy channels the spirit of George Kennedy’s original). Their mission: take down a tech billionaire villain named Richard Cane (Danny Huston, chewing the scenery with just the right amount of smug menace) before he unleashes a convoluted cyber plot that, frankly, doesn’t matter. What does matter is the chaos, and boy, does this film deliver.
Pamela Anderson’s Beth Davenport is one of the movie’s secret weapons. Slipping comfortably into the role of femme fatale, Anderson exudes old-school comedic timing and chemistry with Neeson. She plays it straight just enough, and has a sparkle in her eye that suggests she’s in on the joke but never winks at the camera. It’s a reminder that comedy has always been her most natural lane, and she’s finally getting the chance to shine in it again.
The film’s strongest moments come when it fully embraces the anything-goes logic of classic spoof comedy. There’s a gag involving an out-of-control Segway chase that’s pure vintage slapstick, and a courtroom scene that somehow turns into a full musical number without warning. One particularly inspired bit involving facial recognition software and mistaken identity had the press screening in tears. These aren’t just lazy callbacks to the original trilogy—they’re fresh spins that pay homage without pandering.
That said, The Naked Gun (2025) isn’t bulletproof. The middle stretch hits a noticeable lull where the jokes slow to a jog rather than a sprint. A few of the gags feel like they were workshopped to death or were left over from other scripts, and the film occasionally teeters on the edge of becoming a little too self-aware. Fortunately, it snaps back just in time with a finale so chaotic and earnest that it earns every laugh on its way out.
Schaffer’s direction is razor-sharp, keeping the pace brisk and the tone light. Clocking in at a tight 88 minutes, the film never overstays its welcome—an essential quality for this genre, where the punchlines can start to wear thin if you’re not careful. But here, the editing is snappy, the timing is tight, and the jokes come at you with the speed of a whoopee cushion at a state dinner.
For longtime fans of the franchise, this is a respectful and spirited revival. While nothing can truly replicate the singular genius of Leslie Nielsen, Neeson’s commitment to the bit is a delight to watch. He doesn’t try to impersonate his predecessor; instead, he lets Frank Jr. stand on his own clumsy two feet, striking a balance between homage and evolution. It’s less about imitation and more about continuation, with a surprisingly sweet throughline of legacy and loving absurdity.
If you’re old enough to remember Police Squad! or The Naked Gun 33⅓, this new installment will likely land as a loving extension of that world. And if you’re new to this style of gag-a-minute lunacy, you’re in for a crash course in what made ‘80s and ‘90s parody movies so gloriously unhinged.
Put simply: it’s silly, fast, a little dumb, and a whole lot of fun. In an era of overlong reboots and overly self-serious franchises, The Naked Gun (2025) is a welcome, and much-needed, laugh riot.
Grade: B
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The Naked Gun
Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world: Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Cast: Liam Neeson , Pamela Anderson , Paul Walter Hauser
