Liam Neeson’s ‘The Naked Gun’ Launches in Cinemas Today

Frank Drebin is back, sort of. The Naked Gun has returned to the big screen, reimagined for a new generation but with the same commitment to slapstick chaos and deadpan delivery. This updated take on the 1988 classic brings Liam Neeson into the spotlight as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., stepping into the shoes of his fictional father, originally played by the late Leslie Nielsen.

Directed by Akiva Schaffer, the film keeps its sights set on the genre it loves to mock: the straight-faced world of law enforcement. The gags fly fast, the setups are knowingly absurd, and the plot, well, it’s secondary, just like in the originals. From visual puns to ridiculous misunderstandings, this reboot doesn’t stray far from the DNA that made the original trilogy a cult favorite.

Neeson, often typecast as a brooding action hero, leans into the ridiculousness with surprising ease. That contrast is part of the fun: watching a man who once took down an international trafficking ring in Taken now try to figure out how to hold a banana like a gun. Alongside him is Pamela Anderson, who steps into the leading lady role with a wink and a smile, playing things just straight enough to make the lunacy pop.

“Liam is hysterical in it,” Anderson said at the Zurich Film Festival, capturing what many won’t see coming: Neeson has comedy chops. He’s joined by Paul Walter Hauser as Captain Ed, with support from Danny Huston, Kevin Durand, and Liza Koshy, all game to play in the film’s off-kilter sandbox.

The script, penned by Schaffer, Dan Gregor, and Doug Mand, doesn’t try to fix what wasn’t broken. Instead, it embraces the formula, break the rules of logic, keep a straight face, and let the jokes do the talking. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins, both seasoned in the comedy space, serve as producers, adding a layer of polish to the mayhem.

Now in theaters, The Naked Gun is loud, dumb, and proudly unhinged. Just the way it should be. You can watch the trailer below.

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