FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/the-naked-gun-movie-review-making-people-laugh-is-still-a-noble-cinematic-goal/ "The Naked Gun is a triumphant return to a kind of comedy that’s on the verge of extinction. It’s a love letter to a subgenre often dismissed, yet one that, when done right, can provoke genuine, infectious laughter like few others. Liam Neeson leads a cast fully committed to the silliness, with a script that honors the legacy of one of the most beloved comedy franchises of the 20th century. For longtime fans, I imagine it’s a nostalgic and comforting trip down memory lane. For newcomers like me, it’s the perfect gateway into the world of Frank Drebin (Jr.). A simple, light, and above all, tremendously funny film – exactly what cinema should also be." Rating: A-

**Review: The Naked Gun (2025) – A Goofball Reboot That Delivers Laughs, But Lacks the Original's Bite** Director Akiva Schaffer’s The Naked Gun (2025) revives the iconic spoof franchise with Liam Neeson stepping into the oversized shoes of Frank Drebin Jr., son of Leslie Nielsen’s legendary bumbling detective. While the film captures the absurd spirit of the ZAZ (Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker) classics, it’s a mixed bag of inspired gags and missed opportunities, earning its place as a fun—if uneven—successor 15. ( @ https://purocine-hd.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-naked-gun-2025-movie.html ) The Good: A Worthy Homage with Modern Twists Liam Neeson’s Deadpan Buffoonery: Neeson’s gravelly gravitas is repurposed for comedy, playing Drebin Jr. as a rogue cop parodying his own Taken persona. His delivery of lines like “I’m sure it’s Carrie who writes!” (when asked about Miranda rights) lands well, though he lacks Nielsen’s innocent charm 19. Pamela Anderson’s Scene-Stealing Turn: As femme fatale Beth Davenport, Anderson shines with comedic timing, especially in a bizarre snowman ménage à trois sequence and scat-singing bits. Critics praise her as a revelation 56. Joke Density: The film packs rapid-fire puns (“UCLA?” “I see it every day!”), meta gags (the villain’s “P.L.O.T. Device”), and slapstick (Drebin biting gun barrels). The “chili dog intestinal calamity” scene is a standout 19. Visual Upgrades: Schaffer’s dynamic cinematography (e.g., swooping fight scenes) modernizes the franchise’s flat TV aesthetic, though some argue it undercuts the original’s minimalist hilarity 9.

That trailer with the little girl going into the bank left me dreading this. I thought it was going to be terrible, but it isn’t. It is very much a respectful homage to all things “Airplane” and “Naked Gun” from years gone by and Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson have entered into the spirit of this entertainingly. There is the thinnest of plots about a megalomaniac technology mogul “Cane” (Danny Huston) who has a gizmo that can calm everyone up instead of down. “Drebin” (Neeson) is the son of the legendary “Police Squad” father and he has to try to thwart these evil plans in the face of both a shrewd enemy and his ruthless enforcer “Sig” (Kevin Durand) as well as with his own under-pressure boss (CCH Pounder) who keeps threatening to shut him down! When a body is discovered in an electric car in a river, he is introduced to the victim’s sister “Beth” (Anderson) and soon this pair are working in tandem. Can they stop the New Years’s balls from dropping? Jeopardy there isn’t, but if you remember those other films you’ll appreciate the double-entendres, the literal expressions - “take a seat”… “no thanks, I have some at home already” - kind of thing, and the entire ensemble seem to be up for hamming things up (especially Durand who is about as intimidating as yesterday’s toast) as we head to an enjoyable denouement that squeals predicable and sequel in equal measure. Anderson is on great form as she delivers her lines in an “ok, cue Pam”, stilted, sort of fashion. It also benefits greatly from being tightly scripted, edited and put together. It’s not even ninety minutes long so there isn’t really time for us to tire of the joke. It is good fun, silly and a bit puerile, put still a good laugh.