Review by Jon Donnis
The Naked Gun (2025) had me grinning within minutes. It doesn't waste time setting up the tone. Straight away, we're watching Frank Drebin Jr, son of the late, great Lt Frank Drebin, bust a bank robbery while dressed as a schoolgirl. It's ridiculous, over the top, and exactly the kind of humour I was hoping for. Turns out, this whole thing was just a distraction so someone could swipe a device called the P.L.O.T. Device from a deposit box.
From there, Drebin's heavy-handed approach to justice gets him reassigned. He visits his father's memorial and even asks for a sign of approval in the form of an owl. The plot properly kicks in when a software engineer, Simon Davenport, dies in what looks like a suicide. Drebin spots a clue at the scene that ties back to a nightclub owned by Simon's boss, Richard Cane, a tech billionaire with a sinister plan. Cane wants to use the P.L.O.T. Device to revert humanity to its most savage state, all while the rich hide safely underground.
The film packs in gag after gag. Some of them land front and centre, others sneak in the background for you to catch on a second watch. There's a set-piece with a self-driving car Cane donates to the police that spirals into pure chaos. A nightclub scene where Beth Davenport, Simon's sister, distracts Cane with some of the worst scat singing you'll ever hear. And then, yes, a romantic weekend that somehow involves a living snowman. You know exactly what kind of film you're watching by that point.
Liam Neeson nails it as Drebin Jr. He plays it totally straight, which makes the absurdity around him even funnier. Pamela Anderson brings more spark than you might expect as Beth, and Danny Huston is perfect as the smooth but unhinged villain. The cameos are great fun too, with a few I didn't see coming.
If you've never liked the old Naked Gun films or Police Squad, this probably won't change your mind. It's the same style of humour, and I mean exactly the same. That's why it works though. It's not trying to reinvent anything. It's here to give you the kind of silly, rapid-fire comedy we haven't had in years. My only gripe is there's just one Nordberg gag. I get why they held back, but a few more awkward references could have been comedy gold.
I went in a bit nervous, thinking it might tarnish the legacy. Instead, I came out wanting to see it again. I laughed out loud all the way through. For me, it's a solid 9 out of 10.
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If you are new to this kind of comedy, and enjoyed the film, make sure you check out the original films, they truly are comedy gold.
