Comedy has been on the wane in multiplexes over the past decade as the action-comedy stylings of the comic book movie genre has overtaken the mid-budget laughs of straightforward humorous fare. Now, a beloved parody franchise is being rebooted with the intention of reacclimating audiences to the genre without the need for quippy men in spandex.
The Naked Gun introduces us to Detective Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson), Following in the footsteps of his bumbling father. Following a bank robbery and the mysterious death of an associate of tech magnate Richard Cane (Danny Huston), Drebin and his partner Captain Ed Hocken Jr. (Paul Walter Houser) must figure out how exactly the two cases are connected as the sister of the tech associate Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson) assists them in finding answers.
Following up a beloved comedic franchise is no easy feat, particularly after the passage of many years. Comedic sensibilities change over time while the beloved, classic jokes of the past have become engrained in fans’ minds. It’s hard to compete against nostalgia in general and that much harder when it comes to making audiences laugh. The Naked Gun had a lot to live up to which makes the fact that the film pulled it off all that much more impressive.
It’s comedy is exactly what we’ve come to associate with the spoof franchise, presenting new versions of the gags and jokes that audiences were treated to over 30 years ago. The jokes are plentiful and come at the same steady pace we’re accustomed to from The Naked Gun franchise. They range from slapstick to goofy but never feel corny or too try hard. There are the background sight gags that David Zuckerberg was known for from the “Cold Case” room in the Police Squad precinct to the P.L.O.T. device at the center of the story or the running gag involving coffee being handed to the officers, all the rapid fire silliness is present that makes this feel like a welcomed trip back down memory lane in terms of the humor presented.
As we all are aware however, The Naked Gun features an entirely new cast from the classic crew we knew with Neeson having the biggest shoes to fill. Replacing a beloved, comedic genius like Leslie Nielsen is a tall task, but Neeson uses the same shift in expectations that launched Nielsen’s professional second act to his advantage here. As the audience is used to seeing the Irish actor as a dramatic protagonist or gruff action star, the deadpan delivery as a comedic lead is given extra weight as he plays against type well. His timing is great as is his chemistry with Anderson who steps in for Priscilla Presley. Anderson also displays good comedic timing and delivery, shining in a scat singing bit. Danny Huston is a quality foil and mostly straight man in contrast to Neeson’s bumbling detective.
Living up to a comedy predecessor is tough sledding, particularly when the original The Naked Gun does the impossible and holds up as a comedy decades later, but this latest version is a quality successor to what came before and good first step in revitalizing the franchise. Liam Neeson capably steps into the lead as the head of the new iteration and his chemistry with Pamela Anderson rounds out a successful foray into the future for the comedy series.
Image: Paramount Pictures
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