This Comedy Movie is Actually Good

Review

Charlie White went into the new Naked Gun mostly out of respect for the franchise, expecting little—but came away calling it the funniest movie he’d seen in years.

He praises Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., particularly how seriously Neeson plays a character surrounded by absurdity. Pamela Anderson is also a strong fit, and their on-screen chemistry adds to the film’s charm.

What Works

The film won White over with its rapid-fire mix of slapstick, prop gags, wordplay, and deadpan one-liners. He especially enjoyed its “smart stupid” humor. When Pamela Anderson’s character asks how Frank’s wife died, Frank replies that she “passed extraordinarily well,” then explains that she had a cannon-like throwing arm and they’ll never know if she could have gone pro.

White’s favorite stretch comes when Frank meets villain Richard Kane at a technology showcase. Kane introduces himself with “Lieutenant Drebin,” and Frank beams back, “Me, too.” A moment later, Frank walks his fingers up a miniature staircase display, which promptly breaks. The brief sequence made White laugh harder than any comedy in recent memory.

Overall Impression

Not every joke lands, White admits, and some are at dad-joke level. Still, he found the movie charming rather than cringeworthy. He felt it paid loving tribute to the original Naked Gun films without simply copying them, and hopes its success might help bring more theatrical comedies back.

People Mentioned

• Charlie White, the reviewer
• Liam Neeson
• Pamela Anderson
• Leslie Nielsen
• Richard Kane, the film’s villain