Movie Review: The Naked Gun 2025

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Remember when I did the review of Happy Gilmore 2? You know, the so-called “long waited sequel” that I was curious to see what’s going on with hockey player turned golf, but turned out to be a very disappointed result that I was pretty much both underwhelmed and gently angry, which I called the worst and disappointed sequel I’ve ever seen in the equivalent of “Be careful what you’re wishing” and its also the waste of space to be on Netflix. Perhaps I really should’ve watching “KPop Demon hunters”, but I digress. It turns out Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t the only one to have a classic comedy movie to have a have a sequel after to many years, but this one is well known and one of my favorite from the 80s when I saw on DVD.

“The Naked Gun” is a 2025 action crime comedy film that was written/directed by Akiva Schaffer, produced by Seth MacFarlane (Yup, that Seth MacFarlane) and Erica Huggins, and co-written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.

Before we get to know where The Naked Gun began, lets take a brief moment of its origin. The idea came all the way back in the early 80s. Following a HUGE success of parody movie called “Airplane!” in 1980, the late Jim Abrahams and Zucker Brothers (David and Jerry) tried to make the next project, but outside of movie, they wanted to make parody of crime drama show called “Police Squad!”, aired on ABC in 1982, the show involves a bumbling deadpan police officer, detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin who’s on the case of dealing numerous crimes in a clumsy and comedic fashion, which is especially thanks to the late Leslie Nielsen who’s risen a comedic role after been in serious roles before the 80s. Which despite they’re planning to air six episodes, it was abruptly stopped after four aired episodes, until they aired two more before it was canned too soon. Talk about a big slap in the face to abruptly canned the show, despite it was actually great and funny. But Abrahams and Zuckers won’t let go their passion project, cause six years later, they gave us “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad” and it became a comedy gold in the late 80s with great reception and it made successful money at the box-office by earning $152.4M. But of course, since we love The Naked Gun, its no stranger it became a franchise to producing two sequels, they’re good, but not as fresh as the one that started all, but they still made money on both box-offices. And yes, I saw the first The Naked Gun, and I loved it so much its one of my favorite in the 80s, the second one is good, but not as great, but the third one, I never seen it, yet.

Fast forward to today, the idea of this came all the way back in the late 2000s, when the writer named Alan Spencer wanted to make the fourth one called “The Naked Gun: What 4? Rhythm of Evil”, but instead of releasing it on theater, its gonna be a Direct-to-TV film, but that planned never happened, as Leslie has gone aged that it was meant to passed the torch, but there’s also Abrahams and Zucker Brothers were disgusted that they wanted to canceled the project. But in 2013, Paramount Pictures wanted to try again with The Naked Gun, but its meant to be a remake with Ed Helms as the new Frank Drebin, along with Helms are take the role as the writer with Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant joined in. Though when they asked David Zucker joined in as the producer, but he refused to working on the project, seeing that their modern comedy style won’t be as good as when it used to, leaving the remake concept being canned. Then in 2021, the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane, stepped in that he wanted to make his vision of The Naked Gun as a producer, along with Akiva Schaffer joining in as a director, and its said that its gonna be a Legacy Sequel to focusing on the new generations after we saw The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, with surprisingly Liam Neeson joined in as Frank Jr. But once again, they asked David Zucker to be involved as the executive producer, but alas, he refused to be in this project.

So, with all that said, will The Naked Gun will be a welcome return in for new generation to save California, is this Legacy Sequel would be a bad taste to the past?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie being a legacy sequel, we expecting its gonna be one of those questionable or unoriginal story in a comedy movie. But when it comes to this movie, its actually fun, even if its nearly ridiculous.

The film begins in a bank robbery right away, where not only the gang are stealing money, which wouldn’t be until we introduce lieutenant, police officer, detective Frank Drebin Jr from Police Squad who beat the robbers down after disguising himself as a young school girl. But it turned out the bank robbery was a setup of distraction, when they secretly stole a “PLOT” device, (aka “Primordial Law of Toughness” device), a dangerous device that it blows a shockwave to brainwashing people in to barbarian nature to leaving him to becoming a revision “Founding Father” of the world. But at the same time, Frank Drebin, along with his partner Captain Ed Hocken Jr. also heard about a car crash to the death of Simon Davenport, at first, they thought it was a suicide, but it wouldn’t be until he met Simon’s sister, Beth, came to bringing new evidence that he didn’t died by suicide. So its up to Frank to solving crime cases about the responsible of Simon’s death and question about Richard Cane’s secret.

Its a standard police story of solving crime case, while the “who murdered element” is obviously cliché (because hey, its a police movie), but the plot from the villain’s setup is ridiculous, but in a pretty unique way for one villain who wants brainwashing people to going violently nuts to taking over the whole world, its almost its something out of The Purge, but its a long story. Again, even if the plot is ridiculous, but its actually fun, not just for the plot, but also for the writing, as it meant to follow the legacy from The Naked Gun/Police Squad, with modern twist, which out of modern comedy movies I watched, I actually have fun with this movie, ranging some dialogue in silly threats, some fun timing and maybe some nice reference, whether its just a pop culture reference or some homage of the past The Naked Gun, which il give a credit for bringing something new in this movie and a tribute. While I enjoy some humors, but not all of them are perfect, one is the romance montage scene that we have a snowman comes to life, which I guess its mean to be a parody reference of “Jack Frost” (you know, the one with Michael Keaton), which I think they miss the mark that they could’ve just do a similar montage with “Im into something good” romance scene in the first The Naked Gun, just saying. Although I should also point out the movie’s laugh is surprisingly short for like one in a half hour long, but at least this movie is reasonable, unlike MCU’s Fantastic 4’s length that I’ve been experienced.

While its nowhere perfect, but its ridiculously fun from the story concept, the writing and even the humors, its enjoyable.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget is surprisingly bigger than three The Naked Gun movies, it costed $42M in its budget, which is like three times bigger than the first one, but in fairness, it looks pretty good for beautiful view, and even a silly set.

For starter, the filming location look pretty nice for a movie taking place in Los Angeles, California, especially for seeing some beautiful shots of LA, along with the sets in the studios in interior are pretty cool and some sets are nice touch for its humor from its visual gag, like when stadium is called “Ponzi-scheme.com Arena” is meant to be a reference to “Crypto.com Arena”, I guess selling cryptocurrencies are no strangers for making money for digital shady scheme, even if the difference is that Ponzi Scheme is is a fraud operation that instead of pay return to original investor, you just shuffling around to new investors left and right, but I digress. While its a nice locations to film for taking place in LA, but in reality, it was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, kind of odd when the first The Naked Gun was actually filmed in LA, maybe its for saving the budget based various sets, effects or others.

The sets and the way they filmed are actually pretty good and fun what we see, ranging from the indoor of Police Squad department, the jazz club scene with secret room. For course, their visual gags are actually enjoyable much like the writing, it also has references, for the most part. But of course, if you’re a fan of The Naked Gun movies (even though I still love the first one), it also have some Easter Eggs that you’re familiar with. However, if I have a nitpick on this movie, it will be the Cane car, which is basically a fictional electronic car that looks like a rejected model of today’s Hyundai, but it has only voice commands for to the car’s move or such, and to add more bizarre is the a triangle steering wheel (Eat you heart out, Elon Musk...)

Of course, it also has action scenes, which I will say, the action scenes pretty good from its physical fist fight and of course, the physical comedy’s execution is done pretty good that makes Frank Drebin jr to be both funny and badass at the same time. Though the downside I have is that, while we like to see fist fight and guns (Gun Fu style), but the usage of gun shooting are minimal, which it sucks that I would like to see a hilarious gun shot of death. But to be fair, it has a hilarious and creative beat up with guns in the climax, despite of disappointment, but il give credit for trying.

While some moments are flawed, but their presentation are enjoyable for either beautiful shots and a good laugh of visual gags.

The Characters

For a movie being the legacy sequel, you think the characters are going to be likable and even funny? Well, for the casts, it has a surprise veterans which they did a pretty good and fun job.

Lets start with our main hero, Frank Drebin Jr. (played by Qui-Gon Jinn himself, Liam Neeson), the son of Frank Sr., he’s the next generation of lieutenant, officer, detective on Police Squad to fighting against crimes for many days, either for being badass or being bumbling clumsy fella that he caused nothing but trouble. The easy way to say is “Like Father Like Son”, cause both Sr. and Jr. are both follow in a same duty, but in either coolest to hilariously idiotic way, which is pretty nice to pay homage from Leslie Nielsen days, although il give a credit to give a heart moment when he likes to follow the footsteps from his father and personal struggle when he lost his late wife. Whereas Leslie was such a legendary for his comedic deadpan and bumbling performance, here, its like imagine we have Taken merges with The Naked Gun, but to be fairly honest, I think Liam did a pretty good work of his performance for his action and his comedic role, its as if he made a surprising returning comedic role since we saw The Lego Movie in his good and bad role or even being over-the-top in Darkman. Which, when im saw him from the trailer, I was hesitant that he’s gonna be in mediocre comedic role, but he surprisingly took it in the final result, and like I said, he did a good job of his rule, even if that, as im writing this, he’s currently in 70s, which its not hard to see his action experience is gonna be soft from his old age, but still, he did a fun work.

Next up, we have Beth Davenport (played by Pamela Anderson, yup, the same actress/model who’s been on Playboy Magazine’s covers), she sorta sidekick to Frank for seeking revenge and asking for evidence about her brother’s death, and of course, she’s Frank’s new love interest. I find her also surprisingly good and funny, though sure, she’s meant to be another damsel in distress, but she’s half damsel and half femme-fatal based on being made to be rescue to even one time, she seeks revenge, which it may sounds like its gonna be a be like a good cop and bad cop thing. Well, almost… Of course, like Liam, im very surprised to see Pamela Anderson pulled her comedic performance, ranging from her lines, being accidental clumsy or even, probably my favorite part, jump on a stage of jazz music, but she scattering in a jazz music. Even though I’ve heard her name, but never seen her in either Baywatch show or her questionable film “Barb Wire”, despite those, she did a fun work of her role too.

After that, we have Ed Hocken Jr. (played by… Paul Walter Hauser again since MCU’s Fantastic 4?!), similar to Frank Jr., he’s the son of Ed Sr., who also wants to follow the footsteps, and again, Like Father Like Son, he’s Frank’s partner where he’s a no-nonsense partner to give a warning about some evidence or even some red flag moments. I think he’s passable, he’s more like giving us some plot device for evidence and such without causing Police Squad to fall down. While I find him to be good that Paul did a nice work of his role, but jeez, this is the second row I review the movie with Paul Walter Hauser.

And finally, we have Richard Cane (played by Danny Huston), the owner of Edentech whom, at first, we assuming he’s a gentle employer of his electronic brand to change the world, along with donating his electric car to Police Squad, but alas, much like our old friend Vincent Ludwig, he also has a dark secret of his plan, unlike the typical assassination, here, Cane is planning to taking over the world to brainwashing people into chaos with his P.L.O.T. Device that he and his team stole it, while doing a bank robbery as a distraction. Pretty crazy concept about his villainous goal, I find him to be fairly decent, he’s just a two face villain, there’s one face that he’s nice and open-minded to hanging out with like Frank Jr., but the other face is being narcissist and egotistic that he wants to make a perfect world by becoming his own vision of founding father. Kind of cliché for being an evil egomaniac, but il give credit for their crazy concept about him. Even though its a similar development as Ludwig, but at least the execution is crazy, but pretty nice, and Danny did a good work of his role.

As for the rest of this movie, they’re just there for either story development or even for jokes.

There’s Chief Davis (played by CCH Pounder) is the chief officer of Police Squad, Sig Gustafson (played by Kevin Durand) is Cane’s henchman from robbery to planning to framing Frank for criminal activity like murder (kind of cliché, but again, kind of over-the-top and interesting), Detective Barnes (played by Liza Koshy, aka Margot in… Ugh, Ruby Gillman) who’s a detective in Police Squad who’s just… There for finding her own evidence or calm interrogation, and the one named “Not-Nordberg Jr.” (played by Moses Jones), who likes to follow the footsteps as police officer, but not so much to connect to his so-called father Nordberg (I mean, what do you expect when OJ Simpson was possibly responsible or killing his family member and a friend that he pleaded not guilty? I mean, screw this former football player prick…).

Although, similar to Happy Gilmore 2, the movie also has plenty of celebrity cameos like current WWE Undisputed Champ Cody Rhodes as a bartender (I didn’t know he’s there), one of the bank robber is played by fast rapper Busta Rhymes, some MMA fighters like Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman, former WWE champ Dave Bautista (aka Drax in MCU) and of course, everyone’s favorite parody musician, “Weird Al” Yankovic.

While some characters have a same development from before, but il give credit for upgrade and something new. Along with fun performances from either new and veteran actors for their surprising and fun to do their comedic roles from physical gags and dialogues.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, The Naked Gun 2025 is, at first, a pretty doubtful film when we saw the trailer, but surprisingly, its actually a pretty good legacy sequel what we didn’t expected. Yeah, its pretty surprising what they gave us.

It has good story, a great writing, the presentation looks nice, the characters are enjoyable, even if it kind of focus on Frank Jr., the actors are surprisingly great and have fun, and jokes are pretty good and worth of laugh.

Sure, it has a couple of clichés some can be predictable, the movie length is short as one in a half hour, but its understandable, and some ideas, while its good, but can be mixed, and some parts that they could’ve add more homage from the trilogy, but that’s just me for the latter.

If you’re a fan of The Naked Gun like me, I HIGHLY recommend to watch this movie, its a pretty good and fun film to watch, especially that it pays homage from The Naked Gun trilogy, along with giving a surprise appreciation for veteran actors give us their humorous roles. Though if you may not a fan of The Naked Gun, maybe il let you watch once, and as always, il let you guys drop your conclusion if you actually like this movie, if not, I’d say go watch “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad”, as an appetizer before you watch this year’s legacy sequel, again, il let you drop your conclusion.

For my rating, im gonna give this one an 8/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out