Film Review – The Naked Gun (2025)

The television show “Police Squad!” debuted in 1982 and only lasted six episodes. It offered broad humor and sharp visual gags, allowing creators David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker to extend their brand of wild comedy after the success of “Airplane!” The trio revived their idea for the big screen in 1988’s “The Naked Gun,” which became a sizable hit for Paramount Pictures, who eventually ordered two sequels that also did significant business. It’s been a long time since Lt. Frank Drebin busted crime on the big screen, and while star Leslie Nielsen has passed away, co-writer/director Akiva Schaffer (“Hot Rod,” “Popstar,” “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers”) hopes to revive the spirit of his biggest career triumph in, well, “The Naked Gun,” which plops Liam Neeson in the main role of Drebin’s son (don’t do the math). It’s inspired casting, as Neeson has a funny side to his gruff screen presence that doesn’t get much attention, but the bright, silly highs of the 1988 movie are missing in 2025, which certainly commits to the rat-tat-tat approach of the ZAZ creation, but doesn’t share its inspired sense of humor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com