The Naked Gun Reboot: Liam Neeson’s Goofy Turn Takes Center Stage

Liam Neeson Brings a New Edge to Slapstick in The Naked Gun Reboot

Remember when slapstick comedies ruled the big screen? The 2025 version of The Naked Gun isn’t just a nod to that golden era—it’s an all-out revival. Liam Neeson sheds his tough-guy persona to play Frank Drebin Jr., picking up the badge from where Leslie Nielsen’s iconic detective left off. But this time, it’s not just parody for nostalgia’s sake. Akiva Schaffer—who already showed he can weave chaos and nostalgia together in Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers—loads this reboot with over-the-top physical gags, sight jokes, and moments that’ll make even stone-faced viewers crack up.

Neeson steps out of his comfort zone, trying on deadpan humor that’s a bit like seeing your most serious uncle trip over a garden hose—awkward at first, but quickly funny. The plot? Classic but cranked up: A mysterious device called the P.L.O.T. gets swiped during a bank heist, pulling Drebin Jr. into a case that runs on the fuel of traffic citations, flying chili-dogs, and straight-up ridiculous action. The jokes don’t let up, with Schaffer packing in running gags and a punchy pace.

Packed Cast, Modern Energy, and Winking at the Past

The cast keeps the energy high. Pamela Anderson steps in as true-crime author Beth Davenport—her chemistry with Neeson is playfully sharp. Danny Huston does a perfectly smug turn as tech billionaire Richard Cane, while CCH Pounder delivers straight-faced skepticism as Drebin Jr.’s boss, grounding the parade of silliness just enough.

Visually, Schaffer ditches the staid look of the old films for flashier, more kinetic scenes. Take one outrageous bit: Neeson’s Drebin Jr. gets into a fight and, to everyone’s disbelief, rips the villain’s prosthetic arms off, swinging them around as makeshift nunchucks. The absurdity ramps up, but the movie never forgets where it came from—expect callbacks to familiar gags and recurring dumb jokes, all delivered with serious faces that only make everything funnier.

The film’s critics mostly celebrate its relentless comedy. One sequence even sees a runaway chili dog cart pinballing down the street, a perfectly timed blend of sight gags and total chaos. Not all the risks land, though. Some reviewers point out that Neeson’s trademark gravitas sometimes clashes with the film’s goofy world, especially when the action scenes threaten to tip from silly into full-blown blockbuster mayhem. Still, even when it gets ridiculous, the commitment to nonsense is what keeps fans grinning.

• Wild, straight-faced running jokes echo the original’s cheeky style.
• Modern visuals shake off the TV-movie feel of past entries.
• Every character—especially Anderson and Huston—leans into the unpredictable.

If you’re hunting for an old-school laugh with just enough weirdness, the new Naked Gun delivers. Neeson’s wild streak and Schaffer’s madcap direction charge the franchise with a fresh jolt, giving slapstick comedy a fighting chance for a new generation.