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IMAGE CREDIT : imdb.com |
Frank Drebin Jr. Takes Aim in a Worthy, Wild Reboot
When The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! hit theaters in 1988, it set a high bar for parody comedies—blending slapstick, visual gags, and Leslie Nielsen’s iconic deadpan performance as Frank Drebin. Fast-forward nearly four decades, and now Liam Neeson steps into the absurdly serious shoes of Drebin Jr. in a reboot that walks the line between homage and hilarity.
A Fresh Take That Honors the Original
Right from its high-octane opening scene, it’s clear this Naked Gun has been updated for today’s audiences. The action is bigger, the pacing tighter, but the soul of the original remains intact—namely, rapid-fire wordplay, sight gags, and unrelenting absurdity. As one fellow critic remarked at the press screening, “clever wordplay has no expiration date.” And indeed, the film delivers.
Neeson, Anderson & Chaos
Liam Neeson is in on the joke—and it shows. He commits fully to Drebin Jr.’s clueless confidence and slapstick sincerity. Pamela Anderson shines as Beth Davenport, and Danny Huston delivers a knowingly absurd performance as villain Richard Crane (who’s definitely not Elon Musk).
Supporting the madness are Paul Walter Hauser as Capt. Ed Hocken Jr.—a respectful nod to George Kennedy’s role—and CCH Pounder as the perpetually frustrated Chief Davis. And yes, Weird Al Yankovic makes his traditional cameo, keeping a fun tradition alive.
Fast, Funny, and (Mostly) Focused
Clocking in at a lean 85 minutes, director Akiva Schaeffer wastes no time with needless subplots. The film wisely avoids overcomplicating things, letting Drebin Jr. stumble from one case to another while delivering a steady stream of laughs. Some bits go too far off the rails—even for this genre—but they’re forgivable misfires in an otherwise solid comedy barrage.
Sure, a couple of plot points feel borrowed (fans of Austin Powers or recent action flicks might notice), but in a movie like this, parody is the point—not originality.
Soundtrack & Nostalgia
Beyond the classic Police Squad! theme, the soundtrack offers two memorable highlights—especially a sultry jazz-club number featuring Anderson. While the rest of the score doesn’t particularly stand out, it keeps pace without distracting.
Final Verdict
Unlike many modern reboots (Total Recall, anyone?), The Naked Gun doesn’t collapse under its own legacy. It embraces it. This new chapter doesn’t try to outdo the original—it channels its chaotic energy, lets Neeson’s weathered charm carry the story, and delivers enough laughs to justify its existence.
Is it as perfect as the first film? Not quite. Is it funnier than the third? Arguably, yes. And if this is the spiritual Naked Gun 4, I’d gladly welcome a fifth.
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