IMDb.com
By Keith Walther
Three decades after the original trilogy left audiences in stitches, this fourth installment picks up where the others left off and does not miss a beat. “The Naked Gun” is the long-awaited sequel to those classic spoof-comedies and it successfully captures the soul of the originals. Liam Neeson takes over the starring role for the late, great Leslie Nielsen, and he honors that legacy with hilarity.
The notorious Police Squad continues its quest to put bad guys behind bars, even if that means not always doing things above board. Leading this group is none other than Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson), whose hapless style of investigation is a chip off the old block. When the old detective and his partner Ed Hocken Jr. (Paul Walter Hauser) discover a fatal accident is somehow connected to a bank robbery and a billionaire tech mogul named Richard Cane (Danny Huston), Frank attempts to infiltrate his company to search for clues.
Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), the bereaved sister of the accident victim, is seeking her own justice to avenge her brother’s death. As Frank and Beth stumble closer to the truth, they also find an unmistakable attraction to each other. With the world at stake, the shenanigans only get crazier, leading to a frenzied conclusion that is only fitting for the coffee addicted Police Squad.
Long time writer/director of “Saturday Night Live,” Akiva Schaffer dials up the silly antics that fans of the franchise will certainly appreciate. From hilariously ridiculous pratfalls to over-the-top literal interpretations to completely random humor, Akiva captures the spirit and essence of its predecessors. In fact, he does a splendid job of paying homage to the originals with an assortment of obvious and subtle references that fans will love, like a scene involving the iconic stuffed beaver from the first film. There are so many jokes laced within jokes that it is impossible for audiences to catch them all in one viewing, increasing its rewatchability factor.
Oscar nominated, veteran actor Liam Neeson (“Schindler’s List”) is known for his serious roles, and action roles in which he possesses a very particular set of skills. He rarely forays into the realm of comedy, but that’s what makes this so successful. Liam’s serious deadpan line delivery is fantastically funny, especially the more off kilter the line or situation is. This is reminiscent of Leslie Nielsen’s style that made this series a hit in the first place. Ironically, Liam was consistently mistaken for Leslie throughout his career because of how closely sounding their names were.
While Pamela Anderson is far from being a convincing actress, she is perfectly suited for this type of spoof-comedy role. In fact, her bad acting only contributes in a positive way to the humor, and her chemistry with Liam is surprisingly believable leading to their current off-screen romance. Pamela is no stranger to spoofs, having previously appeared in “Scary Movie 3” and “Superhero Movie.”
Sure the plot is weak and basic, but the unrelenting side-splitting comedy will leave you exhausted and in tears. “The Naked Gun” is that nostalgic, stupid spoof-comedy everyone needs right now. Where else will you find a scene of a ménage à trois involving a snowman that’s been magically animated? Or a scene where Liam Neeson is dealing with chili dog fallout? If you enjoy these types of parodies, then this is a movie you will love and want to watch again.
This movie earns
