Bringing back the slapsticky glory of Police Squad! and The Naked Gun trilogy, the 2025 reboot, The Naked Gun, has landed in cinemas like a comedic grenade of pure absurdity. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and produced by Ted and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, the film passes the torch to Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson), who steps into his late father’s shoes with surprising comedic finesse.
The plot is improbably enjoyable: a chaotic bank robbery, a murder mystery, a tech billionaire’s planet-reshaping P.L.O.T. device, and a wild romance with true-crime writer Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson). It’s as ridiculous as it sounds – and intentionally so.
What sets it apart is how lovingly it nods to the originals. That same blitz of visual puns, background gags, and deadpan delivery remains intact, but with a fresh twist for today’s audience. And, because MacFarlane is involved there are some jokes that would definitely NOT have passed muster back in the day in the originals. Neeson’s deadpan gravitas fuels the dumb jokes with unexpected depth, and Anderson channels her femme-fatale vibes with refreshing charm.
Of course, it’s not for everyone- some jokes overstay their welcome – and at times it is just gloriously stupid, but it’s relentless in its mission to amuse.
In short? The Naked Gun (2025) is a joyful, frantic romp – a pool of mayhem that honours its lineage while striding confidently into modern parody.
