Let me start by saying I’ve never been the biggest fan of spoof comedies—the kind of films where jokes fly so fast you don’t have time to decide if the last one was even funny. Slapstick and wordplay, pratfalls and puns—it’s not the flavor I usually crave. That said, I try to watch movies on their terms. The Naked Gun (2025), the latest reboot of the beloved ZAZ franchise, delivers precisely what it sets out to: a fast-paced, absurdist comedy filled with visual gags, running jokes, and winking nods to the past.
Directed by Akiva Schaffer, the film introduces Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s original bumbling detective Frank Drebin Sr. Neeson, who has played everything from action heroes to dramatic leads, leans into the lunacy with real commitment. Having once seen the 6’4” actor perform in a hoop skirt on Broadway, it wasn’t exactly shocking to see him dressed as a schoolgirl—complete with strawberry-print underpants—for a sight gag. What’s surprising is how fully he throws himself into every bit, no matter how ridiculous.
Pamela Anderson plays Beth Davenport, Drebin’s romantic interest and partner in crime-fighting. Anderson is a standout here, playing her role with a knowing wink and just the right touch of glamour and goofiness. She elevates scenes that could’ve gone flat and gives the film a spark it sorely needs. Her chemistry with Neeson is surprisingly strong, and she clearly understands the tone.
Paul Walter Hauser, as Ed Hocken Jr., brings his own brand of comedic timing to the ensemble. He’s got a rumpled everyman charm that plays well against Neeson’s over-seriousness. His delivery is sharp, and while his screen time is somewhat limited, he makes every moment count. His presence adds an essential layer of grounded absurdity that pairs nicely with the movie’s breakneck pace.
CCH Pounder, channeling the late Nancy Marchand’s Mayor Barkley, brings an authoritative edge to the Police Squad dynamic. Her stoic delivery contrasts hilariously with the zaniness around her, and it’s a joy to see her keeping a straight face while the world around her spins into chaos.
At 85 minutes, the movie is thankfully brief—something spoof comedies should always aspire to be. The gags roll into the credits and through them, so stick around. There are hits, there are misses, and there are dozens of visual jokes hidden in the background that reward eagle-eyed viewers. It’s a movie that practically begs you to watch twice to catch what you missed the first time.
Only Priscilla Presley appears from the original cast—and barely, for less than ten seconds. But the spirit of the original is alive here, if filtered through a modern sensibility. Sure, it’s inconsistent, and the storyline is a little more than a wire hanger for jokes. But it never tries to be more than what it is: a vehicle for absurdity.
The Naked Gun isn’t going to win over anyone who doesn’t already have a taste for this genre, and it’s not quite clever enough to stand beside the classics that inspired it. But even I—staunch non-fan of the spoof—found myself laughing, sometimes despite myself. For what it is, it’s pretty much exactly what I expected—and that’s not such a bad thing.
The Naked Gun (2025)- not a bad remake of a classic spoof
