The Naked Gun

The old Naked Gun films thrived on Leslie Nielsen's charisma: his deadpan delivery could make even the weakest moment funny. That's why the news that Liam Neeson would star in the 2025 revival initially felt odd - he's not a comedy actor at all. But then again, Nielsen himself came from serious dramas, and the contrast is what made him iconic. In this film, Neeson does his best as the "serious man in an absurd world," and sometimes it works, though the magic isn't quite there. Some jokes land, others fall completely flat.

It was nice to see a respectful nod to Leslie Nielsen - a small touch that adds some warmth. Still, the movie feels mostly like a play on nostalgia: it's watchable once, with a few laughs along the way, but there's no real sense that it ever needed to exist.

What a pleasant surprise that movie was. It really brought back the humour and the spirit of the old movies while still bringing its own fresh flair to it. Not every joke might land but there are so many of them in the movie and most of them worked for me. It has been a while since I saw a movie so eager to make you laugh.

Very rarely do you see a remake/reboot succeed in film. They may make a lot of money but they almost always fail to capture the same energy and passion as the originals. Most reboots are made for the express purpose of making you the audience remember the fun times of the original and purely serve to be nostalgia bait. This movie is not that.

It's pretty damn impressive the way the creators of this movie managed to capture the energy and tone of the original naked gun films to a tee. Without nostalgia baiting (while there are some fun callbacks) this movie stands on its own. To be a funny spoof movie in the classic vain of the Zuckers, one thing is the most important: Clever writing. You can't do a spoof movie like this without having constant bits and clever puns. These guys delivered. They came ready with tons of clever gaffs, sight gags, and quick puns that keep the audience waiting for the next joke. Couldn't nail the energy of a Zucker comedy better.

Casting was perfect. Pamela Anderson was a standout for sure. Liam Neeson was also the perfect person to play Frank Drebin Jr.

Overall incredibly funny movie that simultaneously pays homage to the original while also providing its own worth in comedy. Stellar job from this whole team.

If you're a fan of the original Naked Gun movies you will thoroughly enjoy this.

"The Naked Gun" tries to bring back the over-the-top parody and slapstick chaos of the originals, but it never fully reaches the same level of comedic brilliance. There are some genuinely funny gags that capture the absurd spirit of the franchise, yet too often the humor feels uneven - swinging between clever moments and jokes that try too hard to land.

The cast shows enthusiasm, and a few performances lean nicely into the ridiculousness, but the flow isn't always smooth, leaving parts of the film dragging instead of keeping the laughs consistent. Nostalgia carries some of the weight, but the film could have used more fresh ideas instead of leaning so heavily on old tricks.

It's not a disaster by any means, and when the comedy works, it delivers the kind of silly fun you'd expect. But as a reboot of a beloved classic, it ends up being more of a decent distraction than a must-see comedy. A watchable but underwhelming return.

Comedy movies seem to be nearing extinction. And this type of stoopid-funny humor has been nonexistent. Long gone are the days of the Zoolanders, Kung Pows, Scary Movies, and Austin Powerses. Until now.

The Naked Gun is extremely stoopid in the best way possible. There are so many times I was shaking my head at the absurdity of what I was watching. It's cleverly random and strategically obnoxious.

I laughed out loud too many times to count. I would estimate an 85% hit rate for me. Combine that with the nonstop quick rate of comedic attempts, maybe 5-10 per minute. It was a good time.

It has an awesome musical score by beast composter Lorne Balfe, and some well-shot action scenes that feel cinematic. These things are completely unnecessary for this type of comedy movie. But it made the experience that much better.

If you're a fan of stoopid-funny, definitely check this out.

(2 viewings, opening Thursday 7/31/2025. 11/13/2025)