Liam Neeson tries to fill Leslie Nielsen’s gumshoes in a new ‘Naked Gun’

Liam Neeson in a scene from “The Naked Gun” (Paramount Pictures)

Casting Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin in “The Naked Gun” remains one of the greatest comic choices in film history. A former dramatic actor, Nielsen’s deadpan performance in “Airplane!” and later “Police Squad!” reshaped his career. By the time he was recommending “a great, little out of the way place that serves Viking food,” he wasn’t just delivering jokes – he was redefining what parody could be.

Now Liam Neeson, another actor known for serious roles, takes a swing at the same formula in Akiva Schaffer’s reboot of “The Naked Gun”. On paper, it works: like Nielsen, Neeson can play it straight with total seriousness. He’s game for it – the effort is clear – but the fit feels off. What Nielsen made look effortless now comes across as just effortful.

Still, with big-screen comedies in short supply these days, the film’s mere existence feels like an act of faith. While not entirely successful, it’s an earnest attempt to revive the spirit of Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker (ZAZ) and their joyfully absurd comic style.

Directed by Schaffer (of Lonely Island fame) and produced by Seth MacFarlane, the film is co-written by Schaffer, Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The trio manages some moments that echo the original’s rhythm, but often veer into modern overkill. The opening gag – Neeson disguised as a schoolgirl walking into a bank heist – feels designed for the trailer more than the story. It’s strained, and out of step with what made the originals click.

Fortunately, the film soon finds steadier footing. Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr., son of Nielsen’s character. A brief scene pauses on a plaque for the elder Drebin, offering a modest tribute. Another plaque for Nordberg – O.J. Simpson’s role – is quietly sidestepped in a clever visual beat.

Some jokes hit their mark. Watching old footage, Drebin says, “I was furious about the Janet Jackson Super Bowl.” A colleague responds: “That was 20 years ago!” Another: “You can’t fight City Hall.” “It’s a building.” That sort of wordplay, proudly dumb and sneakily smart, is part of what keeps the movie afloat.

Pamela Anderson livens things up as a grieving sister investigating an electric car crash. Danny Huston oozes charm as a shady tech billionaire. The film sticks to the original template – noir narration, shadowy blinds, procedural parody – and leans into Neeson’s action-thriller persona. You half believe he’s a real detective, until the jokes undercut the illusion.

Could someone else have made it work better? Maybe Bryan Cranston. Maybe even Morgan Freeman. But rewatching the original, it’s clear: Nielsen was irreplaceable. His performance wasn’t just perfectly cast – it was genre-defining.

This reboot is not a disaster. It’s sincere, occasionally sharp, and nostalgic in the right ways. But more than anything, it reminds us of what the original achieved – and how hard that is to recapture. Still, “I’m sure we can handle this situation maturely, just like the responsible adults that we are.” Isn’t that right, Mr. Poopy Pants? [Abridged] JAKE COYLE, MDT/AP Film Writer

“Naked Gun,” a Paramount Pictures release is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for crude/sexual material, violence/bloody images and brief partial nudity. Running time: 85 minutes. ★★★★