{"id":35320,"date":"2025-07-30T21:42:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T21:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/35320\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T21:42:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T21:42:09","slug":"the-naked-gun-first-reviews-the-funniest-movie-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/35320\/","title":{"rendered":"The Naked Gun First Reviews: \u201cThe Funniest Movie of the Year\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

Big laughs are back on the big screen, according to the first reviews of The Naked Gun<\/a>. The legacy sequel resurrects the comedy franchise initially spun off from the short-lived TV series Police Squad!<\/a>, and it honors the original creative team of David Zucker<\/a>, Jim Abrahams<\/a>, and Jerry Zucker<\/a>. Not only are critics saying it\u2019s the funniest movie of the year, but also that it\u2019s the first great spoof film in decades. Some reviews nitpick the plot and pace, particularly in the third act, but most recommend seeing this theatrically necessary comedy with a crowd.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what critics are saying about The Naked Gun:<\/p>\n

Should comedy fans be excited for this movie?<\/p>\n

One of the funniest movies in recent history\u2026 It is just what I have been missing with comedies.
\u2014 Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the most audacious comedies in years; one that evoked the biggest laughs of any press screening I\u2019ve ever attended.
\u2014 David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the funniest godd\u2013n thing in years.
\u2014 Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very funny.
\u2014 William Bibbiani, TheWrap<\/a><\/p>\n

The flick achieves what few comedies these days even attempt.
\u2014 Joey Magidson, Awards Radar<\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s enough inspired nonsense here to keep comedy-starved theatrical audiences engaged.
\u2014 David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/p>\n

Other 2025 films have jokes; this one\u00a0is\u00a0jokes, and most of those jokes are really, really,\u00a0really\u00a0f\u2014ing funny.
\u2014 David Ehrlich, IndieWire<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Poster(Photo by \u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

Is this going to \u201csave\u201d big screen comedy?<\/p>\n

The big-screen comedy has grown almost nonexistent lately. So it would be easy to hail The Naked Gun as something better than it is, since it simply existing is cause for celebration.
\u2014 Jake Coyle, Associated Press<\/a><\/p>\n

Whether it can save the big-screen comedy remains to be seen, but it\u2019s just what the summer movie season needed.
\u2014 Nick Schager, The Daily Beast<\/a><\/p>\n

How does it compare to the original Naked Gun movies?<\/p>\n

Akiva Schaffer\u2019s The Naked Gun really is The Naked Gun, not some halfhearted rehash or itemized nostalgia checklist.
\u2014 William Bibbiani, TheWrap<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s arguably just as funny as the first three.
\u2014 Aidan Kelley, Collider<\/a><\/p>\n

[It has] the kind of retrograde, politically incorrect humor that makes the movie feel almost like the old\u00a0Naked Gun.
\u2014 David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/p>\n

The original Naked Gun was\u00a0hilarious. It was a film that practically had audiences wetting their pants. The new Naked Gun, by contrast, is\u00a0amusing.
\u2014 Owen Gleiberman, Variety<\/a><\/p>\n

Not everything lands, but on the whole, the film\u2019s batting average is higher than 1994\u2019s\u00a0The Naked Gun 33 1\/3: The Final Insult.
\u2014 Nick Schager, The Daily Beast<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Liam(Photo by \u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

Is the spoof genre back?<\/p>\n

The film proves that the spoof still has life as a genre, especially for the way it ribs our love of the overblown action blockbusters.
\u2014 Justin Clark, Slant Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

Schaffer and company\u2026 resurrect a style of humor that\u2019s been desperately missed. If this is what a modern parody can look like, sign me up for more.
\u2014 David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel<\/a><\/p>\n

[It] could re-launch an entire style of cinematic comedy.
\u2014 Joey Magidson, Awards Radar<\/a><\/p>\n

While not on the same level as its predecessors, this attempt to bring back the genre is a solid start.
\u2014 Allison Rose, FlickDirect<\/a><\/p>\n

Does it do justice to the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker legacy?<\/p>\n

The relaunch of the classic comedy series captures exactly what made the original, and other movies from the team behind\u00a0Airplane!, so essential.
\u2014 Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence<\/a><\/p>\n

It features as many jokes per minute as the trio\u2019s\u00a0Airplane!\u00a0and\u00a0Top Secret!
\u2014 Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse<\/a><\/p>\n

The movie, in its hit-or-miss way, lacks the fundamental quality of\u00a0aggression\u00a0the ZAZ films had.
\u2014 Owen Gleiberman, Variety<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Liam(Photo by \u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

How does it compare to other legacy sequels in general?<\/p>\n

It never feels like a tired, cash-grab legacy sequel. Instead, it plays like a genuine continuation of the series.
\u2014 David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel<\/a><\/p>\n

The Naked Gun\u00a0is at least a step up from the lifeless\u00a0Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, to name one recent example.
\u2014 David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/p>\n

In the constant barrage of legacy sequels and franchise reboots\u2026 the new Naked Gun is everything you could possibly want from a so-called \u201crequel.\u201d
\u2014 Aidan Kelley, Collider<\/a><\/p>\n

This\u00a0Naked Gun\u00a0revival is a rare kind of reboot: one that truly understands the original, honors its tone, and manages to deliver something that stands on its own.
\u2014 Linda Marric, HeyUGuys<\/a><\/p>\n

Like most reboots, particularly comedy ones, the best thing about the new Naked Gun is that it might send you back to the original.
\u2014 Jake Coyle, Associated Press<\/a><\/p>\n

Is it not just a rehash of the original?<\/p>\n

Every moment of this reimagining of the franchise is unique and isn\u2019t trying to make fun of the original movies or be like them to a T.
\u2014 Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue<\/a><\/p>\n

[It\u2019s] a pitch-perfect homage to Leslie Nielsen\u2019s \u201980s comedy classic\u2014without ever feeling like a tired cover band.
\u2014 David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel<\/a><\/p>\n

The Naked Gun\u00a0reboot isn\u2019t trying to be the same movie. It\u2019s new in many ways, but at its core, it shares the same DNA. The love for the original franchise shines through.
\u2014 Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Pamela(Photo by Frank Masi\/\u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

Do you need to be a fan of the old Naked Gun movies?<\/p>\n

[It] offers a welcome new entry for a new generation.
\u2014 David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel<\/a><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a film that plays much inside baseball.
\u2014 Justin Clark, Slant Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

Will the film connect with audiences unfamiliar with\u00a0Police Squad!\u00a0or the original trilogy? I don\u2019t know. What I do know is that it works.
\u2014 Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies<\/a><\/p>\n

Are we going to laugh a lot?<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t remember the last time I laughed this hard and this consistently in a theater. It\u2019s an absolute riot.
\u2014 Joey Magidson, Awards Radar<\/a><\/p>\n

The Naked Gun\u2018s joke-per-minute ratio is truly astounding, and the fact that so many of them hit as well as they do makes that even more impressive. For goodness\u2019 sake, even the credits have jokes in them!
\u2014 Aidan Kelley, Collider<\/a><\/p>\n

[It\u2019s] an almost non-stop onslaught of silly and random moments, rejecting any attempt at logic to instead go for the gut \u2014 which is to say, the belly laugh.
\u2014 Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence<\/a><\/p>\n

The frame is filled with stealth jokes at every turn, extending far into the background, even out of focus. There\u2019s barely a shot or line of dialogue that isn\u2019t a joke, and the film has a stunning (and eye-watering) success rate.
\u2014 Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse<\/a><\/p>\n

While I wish the whole thing could have been even denser with throwaway sight gags and liminal ADR soundbites\u2026every comic setpiece is a total home run.
\u2014 David Ehrlich, IndieWire<\/a><\/p>\n

Not every joke is going to land for everyone, but you won\u2019t go more than a minute or two without some kind of joke or Easter egg, and a good majority of them will break through to at least earn a chuckle, while a solid number earned true laugh-out-loud moments for me.
\u2014 Michael Balderston, What to Watch<\/a><\/p>\n

The Naked Gun has enough honest laughs to get by.
\u2014 Owen Gleiberman, Variety<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Liam(Photo by \u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

Is there more serious commentary this time?<\/p>\n

The filmmakers are smart enough to know not to kill the vibe with a state-of-humanity address.
\u2014 Justin Clark, Slant Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

The film\u2019s approach to\u2026 heavy political themes is as serious as a whoopee cushion.
\u2014 Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse<\/a><\/p>\n

How is Liam Neeson compared to Leslie Nielsen?<\/p>\n

As with Leslie Nielsen, Liam Neeson was born for comedic roles of this nature\u2026 Neeson delivers a pitch-perfect comedic performance.
\u2014 David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel<\/a><\/p>\n

Liam Neeson isn\u2019t Leslie Nielsen, and he doesn\u2019t need to be\u2014he honors the spirit without imitating it.
\u2014 Danielle Solzman, Solzy at the Movies<\/a><\/p>\n

Neeson\u2019s unruly Drebin doesn\u2019t seek to be anything like Nielsen\u2019s more centered and straightforward incarnation. It\u2019s a much more unruly take on the parody detective.
\u2014 Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse<\/a><\/p>\n

Neeson\u2019s deadpan delivery is reminiscent of Nielsen\u2019s but never quite reaches the same gravitas that made Nielsen\u2019s portrayal so funny.
\u2014 Allison Rose, FlickDirect<\/a><\/p>\n

Neeson\u2026 is not a natural comedian, and you can feel that. His Drebin doesn\u2019t flow the way Nielsen\u2019s did.
\u2014 Owen Gleiberman, Variety<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a near-impossible task for anyone to take the mantle from Nielsen, whose deadpan delivery and pseudo-seriousness were perfect for these movies. Neeson does about as good as anyone could, though.
\u2014 Michael Balderston, What to Watch<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Pamela(Photo by Frank Masi\/\u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

How is Pamela Anderson?<\/p>\n

Pamela Anderson proves a surprisingly ideal match.
\u2014 Linda Marric, HeyUGuys<\/a><\/p>\n

Anderson displays impeccable comic timing.
\u2014 David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/p>\n

Anderson reveals her best path forward in her second act may be as a comedic actress\u2026[she\u2019s] one of the few things in the reboot I think exceeds the original trilogy.
\u2014 Michael Balderston, What to Watch<\/a><\/p>\n

Matching Neeson joke for joke is Pamela Anderson\u2026 reminding us that she is, and always was, a skilled comedian.
\u2014 William Bibbiani, TheWrap<\/a><\/p>\n

Anderson matches [Neeson] line for line in reeling off the noirish dialogue.
\u2014 Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily<\/a><\/p>\n

While Anderson isn\u2019t quite as deft a comedian, she\u2019s up for loopiness.
\u2014 Nick Schager, The Daily Beast<\/a><\/p>\n

What about their chemistry?<\/p>\n

Neeson and Anderson have enough spark to carry the film, not to mention great chemistry\u2026 Their scenes together are the high points throughout.
\u2014 David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/p>\n

Anderson and Neeson have comedy chemistry, to be sure, but also just chemistry in general.
\u2014 Joey Magidson, Awards Radar<\/a><\/p>\n

They play off each other beautifully\u2026 There\u2019s a warmth and playfulness in their scenes that lifts the comedy without ever becoming sentimental.
\u2014 Linda Marric, HeyUGuys<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Paul(Photo by Frank Masi\/\u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

Does anyone else stand out?<\/p>\n

Among the standouts are Paul Walter Hauser and WWE superstar Cody Rhodes, whose appearances leave a lasting impression.
\u2014 David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel<\/a><\/p>\n

Are there any problems with the movie?<\/p>\n

The movie kind of stalls midway as Schaffer struggles to balance the gags with the action of an overly elaborate crime plot.
\u2014 David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter<\/a><\/p>\n

The jokes in the final act of the movie aren\u2019t as consistently strong (there are a few gems in there) as it puts a little more focus on action and making sure the thin plot gets wrapped up.
\u2014 Michael Balderston, What to Watch<\/a><\/p>\n

There were times when the movie turned boring, even though it was only 85 minutes long.
\u2014 Allison Rose, FlickDirect<\/a><\/p>\n

While it\u2019s a mild shame The Naked Gun peters out a little bit toward the end, it\u2019s even more of a shame that it has to end at all.
\u2014 David Ehrlich, IndieWire<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Danny(Photo by \u00a9Paramount Pictures)<\/p>\n

Are we going to want more?<\/p>\n

If this is the start of a new rebooted franchise\u2019s legacy, it\u2019d be difficult to complain.
\u2014 Aidan Kelley, Collider<\/a><\/p>\n

I am more than happy to come back to this franchise time and time again.
\u2014 Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue<\/a><\/p>\n

Is this one of the best movies of the year?<\/p>\n

The Naked Gun is almost objectively the funniest movie of the year.
\u2014 David Ehrlich, IndieWire<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the funniest film of the year.
\u2014 Joey Magidson, Awards Radar<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the most consistently funny films of 2025.
\u2014 Aidan Kelley, Collider<\/a><\/p>\n

The Naked Gun\u00a0is one of my favorite movies of 2025.
\u2014 Rachel Leishman, The Mary Sue<\/a><\/p>\n

The Naked Gun<\/a> opens in theaters on August 1, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Big laughs are back on the big screen, according to the first reviews of The Naked Gun. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35321,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[49,48,5864,75,337],"class_list":["post-35320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-comedy","tag-entertainment","tag-movies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}