Only one man has the particular set of skills – to lead Police Squad and save the world.
From director Akiva Schaffer (“Hot Rod,” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”) and executive producer Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy,” “Ted”) comes “The Naked Gun,” a legacy sequel to the original “Police Squad!” TV series and its subsequent THE NAKED GUN film trilogy.
Liam Neeson stars as Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character, with Paul Walter Hauser as his partner, Capt Ed Hocken Jr., and Pamela Anderson as Beth.
Growing up, THE NAKED GUN movies were my introduction to the concept of a spoof movie. A good spoof pays homage to the classics, mocks movie tropes and cliches, and has enough great jokes and memorable visual gags to justify its own existence. When it comes to being memorable or having jokes that will have you doubled over in your seat laughing, this movie fails hard.
Like Leslie Nielsen, Neeson, who started as a dramatic actor, now enjoys a renewed image as a cut-up in comedy roles. And he has the talent to pull it off. His performance, timing, and delivery are not what is wrong with this movie. It’s the bizarre lack of creativity and toned-down raunchiness. There were a few solid bits, but with two comedy giants like Schaffer and MacFarlane behind the wheel, I expected so much more.
Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson both have proven their comedic chops, and the two share dynamite chemistry, but the gags simply don’t reach high enough. The jokes are repetitive, predictable, and just not the quality audiences expect from the director of “Popstar” (the 2016 mockumentary starring Andy Samberg, which remains the most underrated spoof I’ve ever seen) and the creator of “Ted” and “Family Guy.”
At a brisk 85-minute runtime, one can’t help but wonder if there are better, raunchier jokes lying on the cutting room floor and what they could have pulled off with an R-rating as opposed to PG-13. What we got was a corny, forgettable misfire.
In Theaters Friday, August 1st
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I totally agree with you, James!!
Didn’t laugh once. Dreadful movie, I remember the original, the start was hilarious , and Lesley’s genius shone through. This is a big pile of you know what, how can reviews be so good, must be from the studio