The Naked Gun movie review: Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson shine in goofy, faithful reboot
The third in the series was 31 years ago, in 1994, and there has been a TV series too. For this 2025 re-up, Neeson replaces the late Leslie Nielsen, who had made the role of Frank Drebin his own. Neeson is the son, Frank Drebin Jr, who like his father is stumbling his way through the police force, and somehow saving the day – every time.
The danger this time comes from the kind of billionaire who makes his money in tech, has now embraced green energy, and believes the world needs to be rid of people who are less than equal to 'men of action' like him. This billionaire, Richard Cane, is played in his usual oily indolent way by Huston.
Drebin Jr catches on to Cane fairly quickly, but of course must jump the hoops of a Naked Gun to finally get there. While Neeson throws himself sportingly into what is a spoof of the many roles he has done of well-minded men of violence, Anderson is a scene-stealer whenever she appears. Of course, we are meant to be stunned, but her Beth is all woman and not just a Baywatch bod.
Fans of The Naked Gun will go back happy, and those missing the kind of crude, unsanitized humour that it revels in, would be gratified to see Neeson lending his weight to it.
Also Read | The Bad Guys 2 movie review: A breezy, entertaining sequel
Plus who doesn't want to take a swing at a world where 'powerful, righteous' – and rich – men seem to have it all?
The Naked Gun movie director: Akiva Schaffer
The Naked Gun movie cast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Danny Huston, Paul Walter Hauser, C C H Pounder
The Naked Gun movie rating: 2.5 stars
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