'The Naked Gun': Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson revive dumb comedy — and it's great
With the release of The Naked Gun (now in theatres), starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, comes renewed faith in movie remakes. While several reimagined versions of older films feel tired, The Naked Gun has the opposite impact, giving the audience full belly laughs with its comedy.
Directed by Akiva Schaffer, the film leans into being goofy and stupid, hitting punchline after punchline, and it's incredibly appealing. It's all elevated by Neeson and Anderson being the perfect pairing, in complete harmony on screen.
The Naked Gun release date: Aug. 1Director: Akiva SchafferWriters: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Akiva SchafferCast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, with Danny HustonRuntime: 85 minutes
What is 'The Naked Gun' about?
Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) is following in his father's footsteps, Frank Drebin, the role originated by Leslie Nielsen in the 1982 TV show Police Squad! Drebin Jr.'s partner is Ed Hocken Jr. (Paul Walter Hauser), son of Capt. Ed Hocken, previously played by George Kennedy.
They're investigating the possible murder of an engineer found dead in an electric car, the vehicle invented by tech billionaire Richard Cane (Danny Huston).
The dead man's sister is Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), a true crime writer who wants to involve herself in the investigation into her brother's death.
Made for the laughs
With Schaffer coming from Lonely Island fame, it's not surprising that the director was able to really lean into silly and outrageous comedy for The Naked Gun, with great success.
Physical comedy, nudity, pop culture jokes and satire are all used to make the film a bundle of laughs. It's been a while since we've had a theatrical release of a film that's really been crafted for comedy, and it feels like a breath of fresh air.
What it comes down to is how the film leans into what we'll lovingly call dumb humour, but it doesn't treat the audience like dumb people. It's intentional, the film has a lot of self-awareness, but it's an invitation to really relish in the fun.
Even more impressive, The Naked Gun doesn't feel repetitive at all. It feels new and fresh, but it's also a thoughtful homage to the history of the franchise.
Neeson is absolutely spectacular in the film. His execution of lines with a deadpan delivery, to being completely exuberant in other moments, is incredibly fun to watch.
Anderson as a hilarious femme fatale is also a highlight, and she's never been funnier. Completely taking charge of every hysterical beat for the character.
With rumours swirling about Neeson and Anderson dating, that's easy to believe when you see their chemistry in The Naked Gun, with the actors completely in sync.
While having some peaks and valleys in terms of a few lagging moments in the film, The Naked Gun is one of the most joyous movie theatres experiences you'll have all year. It reminds us that sometimes you just need to have a big laugh.
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