Naked Gun (2025) ★★★☆☆
The long-awaited reboot of Naked Gun dusts off the slapstick, sight gags, and tongue-in-cheek humor that made the original trilogy a cult classic.
Written by Akiva Schaffer, Dan Gregor, and Doug Mand, the script leans heavily into the Zucker-Abrams-Zucker blueprint, peppering the story with absurd misunderstandings, ridiculous wordplay, and more than a few callbacks for longtime fans.
Some jokes hit perfectly—silly enough to draw a genuine laugh—while others land with a thud, as if they were pulled straight from a ’90s joke drawer without much polish. The plot, in true Naked Gun fashion, is secondary to the comedy, serving mainly as a frame for the chaos.
Liam Neeson steps into the bumbling-detective role once made legendary by Leslie Nielsen, and while he wisely avoids direct imitation, he channels that same deadpan seriousness that turns nonsense into gold. Opposite him, Pamela Anderson embraces the parody with self-aware charm, poking fun at her own public image while keeping pace with the zaniness. Together, they bring a kind of fresh spark to the formula, clearly enjoying themselves even when the material wobbles.
Watching Neeson sell a ludicrous line with total sincerity feels like a respectful nod to Nielsen’s legacy, reminding audiences why this style of comedy works best when played straight.
Ultimately, Naked Gun (2025) is a mixed bag—part loving homage, part nostalgia trip. The writing team packs in enough Easter eggs and tonal winks to please fans of the originals, but the reliance on callbacks can sometimes feel like a safety net. Still, there’s a warmth in seeing the torch passed on, with Neeson and Anderson steering the absurdity into the modern era.
For audiences willing to meet it halfway, the film delivers enough silly set pieces to keep the spirit of Leslie Nielsen alive, even if it never fully matches his comedic heights.
© IMDB
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