Fans of “The Naked Gun” series: prepare for the return of bafflingly serious absurdity with a new movie trailer drop. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, the reboot features Liam Neeson in an unexpected twist of roles as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., heir to the bumbling legacy of his father, originally portrayed by Leslie Nielsen. The film, set to grace theaters on Aug. 1, promises to combine slapstick, tongue-in-cheek humor, and maybe a reference or two to events we’d rather forget—the genre’s bread and butter.
Star-Studded Ensemble
Joining Neeson is Pamela Anderson as Beth, who is possibly the most grounded person in the room. Her misinterpretation of a simple “take a chair” manages to set the tone for the usual nonsensical banter we so deeply crave. The cast also includes Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston, Liza Koshy, Cody Runnels, and CCH Pounder—because why stop at four interesting names when you can have seven?
Plot Revelations (Or Lack Thereof)
In classic Drebin form, viewers are teased with snippets where Neeson’s Drebin Jr. quips with Busta Rhymes about a crime so heinous it’s simply described as “man’s laughter.” It’s unclear whether it’s comedic gold or a punctuation error, but in this universe, it’s likely both. With Schaffer, Dan Gregor, and Doug Mand responsible for the zany script, the promise of ludicrous adventures wrapped in deadpan delivery feels like a contractual obligation.
Producing the Madness
Producers Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are pulling the strings on this escapade. The film taps into nostalgia, thanks to origins in the “Naked Gun” films and “Police Squad!” TV series by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. If the history of hapless law enforcement is anything to judge by, we’re gearing up for more shenanigans than a gumball machine in the hands of a bored llama.
So, should you be sharpening your pencils in anticipation? Maybe not, but popcorn should certainly be on standby. Expect a world where nonsensical dialogues might, just might, make perfect sense—or don’t. Who’s to say? Also, did you know the world’s longest game of Monopoly lasted 70 days?
