- THE NAKED GUN (2025)
- Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston
- Directed by: Akiva Schaffer
- Rated: PG 13
- Running time: 1 hr 25 mins
- Paramount
Our score: 3.5 out of 5
I think I’m one of the very few people that watched the original “Police Squad” television show. Created by the comedy genius’ behind the film “Airplane” the short lived series starred Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebbin, a bumbling cop who still managed to get the job done. Like “Airplane,” and their next film, “Top Secret,” the team of Brothers David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, immortalized as ZAZ, the show kept bombarding the audience with jokes. Some stuck, some didn’t, but the results were always funny. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention writer Pat Proft, who also contributed to the humor.
“Police Squad” spawned three feature films, beginning with “The Naked Gun.” Following the same formula as their previous projects, ZAZ (and Proft) gave audiences comedy gold. Can Frank Drebbin, Jr. follow in his father’s hilarious footsteps?
The story line, as it were, finds Frank Drebbin, Jr. (a hilariously deadpan Neeson) foiling a bank robbery thanks to the power of disguise. The opening moments set the tone for the rest of the film. Yes, this is your father’s “Naked Gun.” Frank’s partner, Ed Hocken, Jr (Paul Walter Hauser), like Frank, is the son of a former Police Squad detective, played in the original films by George Kennedy. A great scene show the sons paying tribute to their fathers while the son of former officer Nordberg just dismisses his pop. If you know, you know.
Neeson, who has shown his comedic chops in films like “Ted 2” and “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (both done my Seth McFarlane, who also produced this film) is perfect here. His rugged face, and action film cred, make his character especially likeable. Kudos also to Danny Huston, who is making an excellent living out of playing bad guys. In a role where she is almost unrecognizable, Ms. Anderson proves herself to be a fine film comedienne.
If I have one issue, it’s that the film is quite short. The 85-minute running time noted above includes the end credits. Hopefully the next one (fingers crossed) will be longer.
On a scale of zero to five, I give “The Naked Gun” ★★★1/2