After a 30-year break, the beloved slapstick comedy franchise makes its comeback with The Naked Gun (2025), bringing back the same ridiculous humor that made audiences laugh in the 1990s. Our review of The Naked Gun will look at whether the new movie captures the spirit of the original trilogy while updating it for today’s viewers.

Plot

The story centers on Franklin “Frank” Drebin Jr., played by Liam Neeson, who takes on the role as the son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic character from the original films. The plot kicks off with what appears to be a simple suicide case, but quickly grows into something much bigger and more complicated. However, anyone familiar with The Naked Gun movies knows that the story isn’t really the main attraction. The plot serves mainly as a backdrop for the endless stream of jokes, visual gags, and absurd situations that the franchise is famous for. It’s deliberately simple and follows the typical formula of Frank Drebin trying to stop some ridiculous criminal scheme.

The Comedy Formula

The comedy remains the heart of the movie, mixing several different styles that made the original trilogy successful. The film relies heavily on deadpan delivery, where characters say outrageous things with completely straight faces, creating humor through the contrast. Visual gags and slapstick comedy fill every scene, rewarding viewers who pay close attention with both obvious jokes and subtle background details. The movie also packs in countless puns and wordplay that come at you rapid-fire throughout the runtime.

The humor includes the usual mix of literal misunderstandings and over-the-top romance parodies that mock cheesy romantic movie moments. All these elements are delivered without feeling forced or trying too hard, though international audiences might miss some jokes that reference American culture and current events. The pace stays relentlessly fast, with barely any breaks between gags, which is exactly what fans expect from The Naked Gun style.

Cast Performances

The casting proves to be one of the movie’s strongest points. Liam Neeson stepping into the lead role initially seems like an odd choice, given his background in serious action movies. However, this contrast actually works perfectly for the character, similar to how Leslie Nielsen successfully transitioned from dramatic roles to comedy in the original films. Neeson delivers every joke with the perfect stoic expression and straight-faced timing that the role demands.

The supporting cast also delivers strong performances. Pamela Anderson plays the female lead, Danny Huston takes on the main villain role, and Paul Walter Hauser serves as Neeson’s sidekick. Huston captures the typical Naked Gun antagonist style that feels authentic to the original trilogy, while Hauser channels the spirit of the original Ed Hocken character. None of the cast members feel out of place, and everyone commits fully to the absurd tone of the movie.

Modern Updates

One notable update for modern audiences comes in the action sequences. While the original trilogy had intentionally corny and awkward action scenes that added to the comedy, the 2025 version features much better choreographed action. Despite this improvement, the essential Naked Gun spirit still shines through these scenes, maintaining the franchise’s identity while making the movie more appealing to today’s viewers.

Verdict

The movie succeeds by knowing exactly what it is and sticking to that identity. Rather than trying to reinvent the formula or outdo the originals, it embraces the classic slapstick style, absurd one-liners, and chaotic nonsense that made the franchise popular. The film includes plenty of callbacks and references to the original trilogy, making it feel connected to its roots while still managing to feel fresh in today’s comedy landscape, where many films play it much safer.

This isn’t a movie for viewers looking for complex storytelling or high-octane action sequences. Instead, it delivers exactly what it promises: unapologetically silly comedy filled with ridiculous puns, quick visual gags, and deadpan insanity performed with complete commitment. For the best experience, watching at least the first movie from the original trilogy is recommended, as it helps viewers understand the character dynamics and catch references that connect the new film to its predecessors.

The Naked Gun (2025) proves that sometimes the best approach is simply doing what you do best, and this franchise continues to excel at making audiences laugh at the most ridiculous situations imaginable.