naked gun
Courtesy/Paramount Pictures

It seems that the age of remakes and sequels in Hollywood has been ongoing for a long time. It also seems that the returns are diminishing each time an old franchise is revived to capitalize on nostalgia for quick profits. However, the 2025 remake of "The Naked Gun" is an unexpectedly hilarious but respectful tribute to the 1987 spoof comedy classic, in which Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson easily steal laughs and hearts

@nakedgunmovie

Frank Drebin is BACK. Not from the dead. Actually, he’s not really back at all. Frank Drebin Jr. is here for the first time. Watch the new teaser trailer for The #NakedGun - only in theatres August 1st.

♬ original sound - Naked Gun Movie

The original 'Naked Gun' films and the short-lived 1982 ABC series "Police Squad" starring Leslie Nielsen, were a spoof on police procedurals and detective noir stories. Nielsen played Detective Frank Drebin, a dimwitted, violent, but effective police officer whose hijinks make up the majority of the comedy. His romantic interest in the films was played by Priscilla Presley as a spoof on the femme fatale trope found often in detective noir stories.

In the 2025 film, Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., a cop much like his father, who violently stumbles his way into a conspiracy that not just threatens Los Angeles, but the entire world. In a way, it seems like Neeson has been preparing for this role for the past twenty years. Since 2008's 'Taken,' the Northern Irish actor has almost exclusively played the stoic action hero that Nielsen's original take made fun of, making his participation in the movie even funnier.

@paramountpicsph

Liam Neeson like you’ve never seen him before. The NakedGun — In PH Cinemas AUG 13.

♬ original sound - paramountpicsph - paramountpicsph

The two leads, Neeson and 'Baywatch' star Pamela Anderson, aren't known for their comedic chops, but can pull off the deadpan delivery needed to contrast the absurdist humor characteristic of the franchise. And while there are a few moments between the two actors without slapstick comedy, Neeson and Anderson have a chemistry that seems to have even translated to a real-life romance.

Fans of the Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker style of humor will love this film as it strictly adheres to the types of gags and word-play prevalent in "Top Secret!" and "Airplane!" Directed by the "Lonely Island" alum Akiva Schaffer and produced by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, the creative team behind 2025's "The Naked Gun" is a powerhouse in modern comedy. And it's evident that they are huge fans of the original as they provide a surprisingly touching (but still ridiculous) tribute to Nielsen, who passed away in 2010.

With the resurgence of police procedurals on television like "Law & Order" and "CSI," and Neeson's career as an action hero, 2025's "The Naked Gun" has plenty of material to make fun of, not available to the original trilogy of films, which ended in 1994. The new film makes the most of the material and star power it has, serving up clever jokes and hilarious performances all around that will delight fans of the original and newcomers to the franchise.

You can watch 'The Naked Gun' in theaters on August 1.

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