The Naked Gun (2025)

Release Date: August 1, 2025
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Starring: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes
Runtime: 85 minutes
Genre: Comedy / Parody

The Naked Gun (2025) is pure Marmite — you’re either going to love it or hate it. It swings big with slapstick, awkward one-liners, and a throwback spoof energy that some will find nostalgic and others will find painfully outdated. There are a few genuinely funny moments scattered throughout — quick visual gags, oddball side characters, and the occasional deadpan delivery that actually lands — but they’re the exception, not the rule. So when this remake was announced, I went in open‑minded. Neeson doing comedy? Could’ve been fun. But within minutes, it was clear: this wasn’t going to work. If you want to see why the original spoof still works, the first Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.

What we got was a remake that feels both rushed and lazy. A film chasing nostalgia without delivering the wit that made the originals click. There are scattered flashes where you sense what the filmmakers were going for — but they’re buried under a script that feels like it was thrown together in record time.

Plot Recap: Same Case, No Spark

The movie follows Detective Frank Drebin (Liam Neeson), a clueless cop pulled into a messy case involving smuggled weapons and political cover‑ups. Jane (Pamela Anderson) is back as his on‑again/off‑again love interest, while new side characters try to inject energy into the formula.

On paper, it sticks to the blueprint: crime parody, slapstick spectacle, visual gags. The problem? The jokes are tired, the story is rushed, and the humor feels stuck in the past. The script leans on pratfalls and recycled gags that might have worked in the ‘80s but land flat in 2025.

Even the pacing feels off. Scenes drag when they should move fast, and quick gags are rushed before they can land. At 85 minutes, it should’ve flown by. Instead, it felt long — which is the ultimate failure for a comedy that’s supposed to breeze along.

Cast & Characters: Trying Hard, Trapped by Bad Writing

When it comes to the cast, no one was phoning it in — but the writing leaves them stranded. Liam Neeson is committed, delivering that trademark gravitas in every scene. Seeing him tackle parody could’ve been a clever twist, but here it just feels awkward. He’s not the problem — the weak script is. Pamela Anderson is surprisingly game and relaxed in front of the camera, but her role is so paper thin she’s reduced to reaction shots and throwaway one‑liners. It’s not her performance that fails, it’s the material she’s given.

Around them, Paul Walter Hauser shows sparks of real comedic presence, pulling chuckles from almost nothing, while Danny Huston plays the straight‑faced heavy well, though the movie never uses his gravitas to elevate the satire. CCH Pounder brings authority and impeccable timing whenever she appears — honestly, the film could have used a lot more of her. The likes of Kevin Durand, Liza Koshy, and Cody Rhodes add energy, but they’re mostly left as gag delivery machines built for trailers instead of story.

Bottom line: the performances had potential, but the script is the dead weight. The cast are swinging, but they’re swinging at air.

Public Feedback: Mixed, With More Groans Than Laughs

Public reaction has been loud — and uneven. Some critics argue it’s a harmless throwback that proves slapstick still has an audience, while others label it an embarrassing misfire. Fans of the original trilogy have been the harshest, saying it strips away the sharpness that made Leslie Nielsen’s films timeless. Casual audiences are more forgiving, admitting they chuckled a few times, but many describe it as forgettable and flat, the kind of comedy you half‑watch while scrolling your phone.

Box office chatter also tells the story: modest ticket sales, far from a summer hit. Online debates compare it to other limp reboots, with many saying it feels like an SNL skit stretched into a feature. The consensus forming is clear: a parody that occasionally amuses but rarely sustains momentum.

Controversy: Nostalgia, Nielsen’s Shadow, and Comedy in 2025

Every reboot comes with baggage, but this one has been especially messy.

First, the Leslie Nielsen debate. His deadpan style defined the original — so should anyone else even try? Some critics feel Neeson honors that spirit with commitment, others say the role should’ve been retired with Nielsen himself. That split has dominated discourse since casting was first announced.

Then there’s the David Zucker factor. One of the original creators openly criticized the reboot months before release, calling it unnecessary and soulless. That pre‑release negativity became part of the marketing conversation, shaping audience expectations before a single frame was seen.

Finally, the bigger question: does parody even work in 2025? Modern audiences are bombarded with memes, viral sketches, and TikTok edits that parody pop culture instantly. Against that backdrop, The Naked Gun (2025) feels dated before the first joke lands. Instead of biting satire of modern crime dramas or cultural quirks, it clings to broad slapstick and recycled beats. For younger audiences especially, it feels like comedy from another era.

Put together, these controversies highlight why the film was always fighting uphill — nostalgia pressure, public doubt, and a genre struggling to find its place in today’s entertainment landscape.

Final Verdict: A Comedy Missed Opportunity

By the end, I wasn’t laughing — I was checking the time. Sure, there are fleeting moments that almost land, but they’re buried under a pile of weak jokes and flat pacing. This movie isn’t offensively bad, just unimaginative and lazy.

I don’t mind remakes when they bring a new voice or angle. But this? It’s Hollywood IP mining at its weakest. A cash grab dressed as a comedy.

Final Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (3/10)

Neeson in comedy could’ve been bold. Instead, The Naked Gun (2025) proves that some franchises should be left untouched. For a deeper dive into its legacy, this Guardian retrospective breaks down why Leslie Nielsen’s deadpan humor was so untouchable.

📎 Want more?
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👉 Superman (2025) Review - A New Man of Steel for a New Era

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