The Naked Gun (2025)
A Refreshingly Silly Return to Police Squad
Liam Neeson proves the franchise is in safe, deadpan hands.
An unabashedly, refreshingly silly affair, The Naked Gun makes a welcome return in 2025. While the film is connected in name and legacy only—as original creatives Zucker and Abrahams have reluctantly passed the baton to Seth MacFarlane’s team—I can report that the franchise is in safe and capable hands.
"Whether I can lean into the lightheartedness, I don't know... I'm not Leslie Nielsen. But the script is very funny."
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: Akiva Schaffer
- Writers: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Akiva Schaffer (Story by Seth MacFarlane)
- Starring: Liam Neeson (Frank Drebin Jr.), Pamela Anderson
- Supporting: Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston
- Cinematography: Lafuente Guijarro
The Director's Vision
Major kudos must go to Director Akiva Schaffer, who also co-wrote the script. This type of humor is not easy to pull off, as demonstrated by the many "movie" parodies that have failed before. Schaffer finds the perfect balance of visual gags, biting dialogue, and extreme situations.
Clocking in at less than 90 minutes, the runtime is an act of mercy. It allows audiences to catch their breath between laughs before the logical brain can analyze the plot. I honestly feel like I missed half the jokes from laughing so much—a trait shared with the original films where new comedic layers are still being discovered decades later.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- The Neeson Pivot: Liam Neeson was famously nervous about the role, citing that he is "not a comedian," but Akiva Schaffer insisted that his "deadly serious" action persona was exactly what the role required.
- Pamela's Noir Roots: Pamela Anderson's character is a direct homage to the "femme fatale" archetypes of the 1940s, specifically tailored to mirror Priscilla Presley’s Jane Spencer.
- Lonely Island DNA: Director Akiva Schaffer brought in several collaborators from Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping to ensure the "visual gag-per-minute" ratio stayed high.
- Classic Cameos: Keep your eyes peeled for several background cameos from original Police Squad! bit players hidden in the precinct scenes.
✅ Pros
- Liam Neeson’s perfect, aloof, straight-laced take on Drebin Jr.
- Rapid-fire jokes that demand multiple viewings.
- Pamela Anderson is surprisingly humorous and fits the noir vibe perfectly.
❌ Cons
- Purists may miss the specific "ZAZ" (Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker) touch.
- The plot is (intentionally) paper-thin.
The Performances
- Liam Neeson: Benefits from his overly serious disposition, serving the legacy of Leslie Nielsen beautifully. He stays "in the pocket" of the joke without ever winking at the camera.
- Pamela Anderson: Does a fun take on the stereotypical noir bombshell without overplaying her hand, proving she has great comedic timing.
- Paul Walter Hauser: As the new Ed Hocken, Hauser provides a brilliant comedic foil that keeps the precinct scenes grounded in absurdity.
👀 Where to Watch
The Naked Gun (2025): Now available for digital purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Streaming: Scheduled to arrive on Paramount+ in mid-2026.
This movie finds that sweet spot that many parodies tend to blast right by. It’s a film that definitely needs to be watched again to appreciate the depth of the humor. So watch The Naked Gun more than once—you likely won't regret it.
Final Verdict: A Mile-a-Minute Riot
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