I can't think of a better way to honor the original franchise than with this film. The Naked Gun honors and respects the humor of the Zucker-style comedy, as well as provides a lot of new additions to make it stand on its own. Fans of those styles of comedy will no doubt have a blast watching this. Out on Blu-ray and 4k Ultra HD on 11/11/25.
“Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father’s footsteps in THE NAKED GUN. From Director Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live) and producer Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy). Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston also star in the film critics are calling ‘a fully loaded, gut busting comedy’.”
It’s been over four decades since the short-lived television series Police Squad introduced us to the bumbling brilliance of Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), with a successful run of three films to follow. The legacy is long, the jokes classic, and the bar high for any successor. The Naked Gun (2025), directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., this film is a legacy sequel that not only aims to honor the original but tries to carve its own comedic space.
The Zucker Brothers have created some of the best comedy films of all time; Airplane!, Top Secret!, as well as the original Police Squad TV series and all the subsequent Naked Gun films. There’s just something so absurdly hilarious about their writing, and for me, the brilliance of it was just how innocently silly the writing is. It helped to have he funniest, deadpan delivery-man of all time, Leslie Neilsen, to ensure their writing translated to the screen flawlessly. With the shift in the film industry over the past few decades, as well as the sense of humor of the TikTok generation, I honestly never thought I would see a Zucker Brothers-style comedy again, and still cannot believe we got another Naked Gun film.
Others have tried to imitate the formula and writing style, but never getting it right. While I was definitely nervous about this going in, I made it about three minutes into the film before all my concerns were alleviated and I was almost falling out of my chair laughing. Akiva Schaffer, whom you may know as part of the Lonely Island group from SNL, treats the franchise with the utmost respect, with some hilarious homages to the original films and tiny easter eggs that only the die-hard fans might pick up.
From the start, the film strikes the familiar tone of sight gags, rapid-fire one-liners, and slapstick folly. Neeson leans into the deadpan absurdity of his predecessor’s role, and that contrast, his serious gravitas against ridiculous scenarios, works better than you might expect. He’s definitely a highlight, fully committing to the silliness.
Pamela Anderson also does a fantastic job, she is more than capable at delivering the same silly, dead-pan humor with great comedic timing.
Video
On Blu-ray, The Naked Gun looks great. The transfer preserves crisp detail and maintains the vivid color palette of its production. The slapstick set pieces and sight-gags benefit from clean imagery and strong contrast. As a comedy, the film doesn’t rely on breathtaking set pieces and imagery, but you’ll appreciate the detailed transfer nevertheless.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Atmos, providing plenty of punches when needed. Dialogue remains clear even through the most chaotic visuals, and surround effects give the film a lively space. While not a demo-track for serious home theatre audiophiles, it delivers what you want for a comedy of this style.
Special Features
The Blu-ray version includes a digital code and slipcover, as well as the following extras:
- Deleted, Alternate, and Extended Scenes
- A Legacy of Laughter
- Son of a (Naked) Gun
- The Funny Femme Fatale
- On Set of a Set Within a Set that’s in a Set
- The Really Unusual Suspects
- Dropping the Balls
- Mock Ads
If you’re a fan of the original Naked Gun films, the 2025 Blu-ray release is a welcome revival. Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson carry the torch with charm, the jokes land often enough, and the film honors its lineage in a way that makes it stand on its own. Only time will tell if this style of humor can make its comeback. I for one am not holding my breath, but will welcome anything in this style where I can get it. Naked Gun is out on Blu-ray and 4k Ultra HD on 11/11/25.
