Anna Daniels
Can a Timeless Joke Endure—Will It Thrive in 2025?
Paramount has released the latest trailer for their “Naked Gun” reboot. I’m chuckling but preparing for a bumpy ride. First off, Neeson isn’t playing around. And that’s exactly why it resonates. For the moment.
A familiar dream exists in Hollywood: revitalize a fading genre by recreating its magic. Occasionally, this leads to gems like “21 Jump Street.” More often than not, the result is a flop. Yet here comes Akiva Schaffer (part of The Lonely Island and the creative mind behind “Popstar” and “Hot Rod”), presenting Liam Neeson, serious as ever, as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the offspring of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic character.
Do you recall that exhilarating feeling? The relentless, laugh-a-minute insanity that the original “Naked Gun” delivered back in ‘88? That’s what the early screenings indicate: “classic spoof vibe,” endless gags, and a brisk 90-minute run that forgoes any nods to social media, diving headfirst into absurd humor. One viewer claims it captures the tone perfectly. Not every punchline hits, but nothing lingers long enough to become stale.
A small miracle indeed, because let’s face it—deadpan parody has been overshadowed by meme culture for ages. So, why bother resurrecting it? The answer is simple: Liam Neeson fully embraces it. He dives so deeply into his serious persona that he circles back to comedy. We’ve seen action stars attempt this before, but rarely with such magnetic pull. He plays it so earnestly that reality warps around him.
Pamela Anderson is also in the mix, overacting in a way that shouldn’t work but strangely does. Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, Kevin Durand, and Busta Rhymes (yes, really)—the casting feels like a fever dream, as if plucked from a Reddit discussion. Schaffer, along with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (the minds who surprisingly made 2022’s “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” enjoyable) believe that this eclectic cast, allowing plenty of room for physical comedy, is just what the doctor ordered.
Echoes of Spoofs from Days Gone By
However, there’s a shadow hanging over this project—David Zucker, one of the original creators, hasn’t just been excluded from the team; he’s openly expressed concern, warning that this is a tricky act to reproduce. The risks are apparent. Zucker might be onto something. But if one were to take the plunge, why not team up with the creators who brought us “Popstar,” the last film that had me laughing uncontrollably in theaters?
There’s a shift happening—after years of earnest, self-aware comedies that forgot to prioritize humor, we just might, hopefully, be ready for jokes that pack a punch without holding back. But the question remains: will audiences still pay to see them? Are modern theatergoers, conditioned to expect superhero humor and horror thrills, going to turn up for genuine spoof comedy?
What’s the Rationale Now?
This reboot isn’t merely a nod to nostalgia—it’s a revival executed with finesse and precision. The chaotic style of The Lonely Island, managed by a studio that cares about the release date (mark your calendars for August 1, 2025) yet bizarre enough to allow creators creative leeway, feels like a curious gamble. Seth MacFarlane is on as producer, waiting to see how “Family Guy” fans react.
My skeptical side anticipates the trailer might outshine the actual film. Whispers of forthcoming test screenings are circulating—imagine a surprise Midnight Madness premiere at TIFF (unlikely, but let a person dream). If the energy remains high, if that Neeson plays-it-straight vibe persists… it could, against the odds, become the hidden gem of the summer.
So, what’s the essence? The trailer delivers pure farcical enjoyment, unapologetically, and I found myself laughing at least a couple of times. The release date is August 1st, 2025. The lingering question: have we been longing for this type of entertainment? Or has it been longing for us?
Regardless, one thing is clear: Paramount is placing a hefty bet that a single, serious man with a distinct comedic flair can still rejuvenate the spirit of summer comedy.
