When it was first announced that The Naked Gun was being rebooted, many fans of the original Leslie Nielsen classic rolled their eyes in disbelief. The thought of anyone stepping into the role of bumbling detective Frank Drebin seemed like a recipe for disaster. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, best known for his offbeat comedies, this 2025 update had a lot to prove. And while it doesn’t reach the absurd comedic heights of its predecessor, it isn’t the unwatchable misfire many feared it would be.

The decision to cast Liam Neeson as Drebin initially raised eyebrows, but surprisingly, it works better than expected. Neeson leans into his deadpan delivery with gusto, playing the role straight while the chaos unfolds around him. The film cleverly riffs on his “particular set of skills” action persona, turning his intimidating presence into the punchline of countless gags. While he never quite matches Nielsen’s effortless silliness, his sheer commitment to the bit keeps the film afloat.

Pamela Anderson steps into the leading lady role, and while her performance feels more functional than inspired, she plays off Neeson well enough. Paul Walter Hauser provides some solid comic relief as Drebin’s hapless partner, injecting bursts of energy whenever the pacing begins to sag. Danny Huston, as the villain, does what he can with a relatively thinly written antagonist, though the character is more caricature than menace.

Visually, Brandon Trost’s cinematography gives the film a glossy, modern sheen, but it sometimes clashes with the deliberately ridiculous humour. The original Naked Gun thrived on its rougher, TV-parody aesthetic, while this version feels a bit too polished for its own good. Lorne Balfe’s score, on the other hand, strikes a fine balance between bombastic action cues and playful musical flourishes, helping to tie the tonal shifts together.

Where the film struggles most is in its humour. The slapstick, wordplay, and visual gags that defined the original trilogy are all present, but they feel more restrained and less inventive here. Too often, the jokes rely on obvious cultural references or recycled set-pieces, which fall short of the inspired lunacy that made the franchise iconic. There are flashes of brilliance – a courtroom scene that spirals out of control and a wonderfully absurd chase sequence – but these moments are too few and far between to sustain the runtime.

In the end, The Naked Gun (2025) is neither a disaster nor a triumph. It exists in that awkward middle ground of being serviceable but forgettable. Fans of the original may find themselves chuckling here and there, but rarely laughing out loud. For newcomers, it plays as a slightly oddball action comedy, never quite outrageous enough to stand apart from the pack.

As reboots go, it could have been much worse. Neeson proves to be an unexpectedly solid choice, and Schaffer keeps things moving at a decent pace. Yet the film never escapes the long shadow cast by its predecessor. Average at best, but at least not a total embarrassment – which, considering the legacy it’s up against, is something of a small victory.