Naked Gun Reboot Released Featuring Liam Neeson, Draws Mixed Reviews

The 2025 revival of The Naked Gun franchise, directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., delivers a deliberately silly and nostalgic slapstick comedy that honors the spirit of the original Leslie Nielsen films. Critics acknowledge the film's unapologetically dumb humor, including recurring visual gags and absurd scenarios, which provide a welcome comedic relief in a landscape lacking such straightforward farce. Neeson's portrayal differs from Nielsen's iconic deadpan style, leaning more on a serious, grounded demeanor that some find less fitting but still serviceable within the film's chaotic tone. While not universally praised—some reviewers see it as a retread lacking the ruthless wit of the 1988 original—others appreciate the casting and the film's embrace of pure, lowbrow comedy without pretense. The plot, involving a tech billionaire antagonist and a love interest played by Pamela Anderson, serves mostly as a vehicle for the jokes rather than a serious narrative. Overall, the movie is seen as a fun, lighthearted escape that may not reach classic status but succeeds in evoking laughter and nostalgia.