Thirty-one years after Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) last graced the silver screen in “The Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” (1994), it’s time for a comedic legend to return. 

The reboot of the franchise reusing the 1988 original’s name follows Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) working to stop the wealthy Richard Cane’s (Danny Huston) evil plot with the help of Ed Hocken Jr. (Paul Walter Hauser) and newcomer Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson). 

People say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and that’s especially true for Neeson’s performance.  

Commonly known for serious action films, Neeson still channels that stoicism while delivering comedic dialogue and jokes without a hint of breaking character, just like Nielsen did in the original three films. 

His chemistry with Anderson is also incredible with her comedic delivery being on par with Neeson’s.  

Their chemistry together is also aided by the rumors of the co-stars being in a relationship, as well as it’s not hard to see how well they get along. 

As far as the other actors go, they all do a good job but don’t stand out or make much of an impression as the focus isn’t on them long enough to do so. Even Huston didn’t really stand out to me much, and he’s the main antagonist of the whole film. 

The film’s plot is also rather straightforward in a classic cop thwarting an evildoer like the other films in the franchise, but this film sets itself apart thanks to its modern nature. 

Technology has evolved and not everyone at Police Squad is able to keep up with it, leading to a neat undertone throughout the whole movie centered around the clashing ideals of past ideals and modern technology. 

But let’s be honest, none of us are really watching this for the actors or plot; we’re here for the comedy. 

In the humor department, everything is just as it was in the original film including cleverly written dialogue jokes, running gags, mannequin stand-ins for characters being thrown about, sexual innuendos, cameos and more. 

This type of humor also allows the cinematography to be more whimsical with some unique camera angles and shots that are reminiscent of the original films. 

Unfortunately, this means the original’s problems are still present. 

Not all of the jokes hit as some are in sour taste, especially those objectifying women and treating them like low-hanging fruit. 

The good news is the film appears to be self-aware of the fact that those jokes are no longer as funny as they were back in the originals as this film only jokes about it a couple of times rather than doubling down on it as seen in “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” (1991). 

“The Naked Gun” (2025) takes after its predecessors by falling in line with what made the original so great. 

With great leads and plenty of comedy throughout, the film serves as an enjoyable time for moviegoers of all ages. 

So long as you can look past the unmemorable side characters and outdated humor that is. 

Rating: 4/5