“The Naked Gun (2025) Review – Can This Reboot Live Up to Leslie Nielsen’s Legacy?

Director: Akiva Schaffer

Writer: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Thomas Lennon (based on the TV series Police Squad!)

Production Studio: Paramount Pictures

Genre: Comedy, Parody

Runtime: 97 minutes

Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Kevin Durand, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston

Release Year: 2025

Rating:  (6/10) enjoyable but not essential.

Naked Gun (2025) attempts to revive the slapstick legacy of Leslie Nielsen’s beloved parody films by reimagining Frank Drebin with Liam Neeson in the lead role. Known for his action-hero gravitas, Neeson leans into deadpan delivery while chaos unravels around him. The film blends classic sight gags, absurd stunts, and over-the-top parody of modern crime thrillers. While it captures some of the zany energy of the originals, it occasionally struggles with uneven pacing and jokes that don’t always land.

Liam Neeson’s Surprising Comedic Timing: Though best known for action roles, Neeson’s stone-faced commitment sells much of the humor. Pamela Anderson’s Cameo: A nostalgic throwback to ’90s pop culture, she brings self-aware fun.

From outrageous chase scenes to absurd courtroom antics, the film delivers laugh-out-loud slapstick moments. Takes aim at streaming-era crime dramas, police procedurals, and action tropes.

Strengths

Nostalgic callbacks to Leslie Nielsen’s Police Squad! legacy.

Clever cameos and meta-humor for longtime fans.

Fast-paced visual comedy in several sequences.

Weaknesses

Some jokes feel forced or recycled.

Narrative cohesion takes a back seat to gags.

Doesn’t always balance parody with fresh originality.

Naked Gun (2025) is a fun if uneven revival. Fans of the original trilogy will enjoy the slapstick energy and Liam Neeson’s surprisingly sharp comedic instincts, but the movie doesn’t quite reach the timeless charm of its predecessors.