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If 1988’s “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!” is a charcuterie board — consistent, reliable and overflowing with clever comedy — then 2025’s “The Naked Gun” is a chili dog: comforting and gut-busting, but short-lived, with just a few standout bites.

Directed by Saturday Night Live veteran Akiva Schaffer, “The Naked Gun” is a revitalizing comedy that blends modern spoofs with the absurdist humor of its predecessor. While it doesn’t capture the charm or solidity of David Zucker’s original, Schaffer’s effort is a commendable step toward restoring the genre.

Opening with a bank heist reminiscent of “The Dark Knight,” Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) — disguised as a little girl, skirt and all — channels his best Ethan Hunt impression, pulling off his mask and comedically thrashing a group of thugs.

The real treasure isn’t money, but the “P.L.O.T. Device,” a gadget that ignites instinctual violence in people. From the outset, the film establishes its self-awareness, leaning on slapstick, sight gags and parodies of modern action blockbusters.

Later, while investigating the death of Simon Davenport (Jason MacDonald), a software engineer, Frank Jr. meets Simon’s boss, Richard Cane (Danny Huston). Cane secretly plans to wipe out humanity (excluding the elite) by triggering humans’ primitive, animalistic behavior with the P.L.O.T. Device.

After interrogating one of the robbers (Busta Rhymes), who hilariously served 20 years in prison for “man’s laughter,” Frank Jr. learns that the deposit box containing the device was Simon’s. Frank Jr. holds Sig Gustafson — the underboss who stole the device — in a fake hospital room (“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” style), tricking him into revealing Richard’s plan.

Like Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin in the single-season series, “Police Squad!” and the ensuing film trilogy, Neeson is the heart and soul of “The Naked Gun.” The 73-year-old’s level of seriousness and commitment to the gag is spectacular — a real treat for his fans.

Neeson was a fantastic choice to play Frank Jr., even paralleling Nielsen’s career path. Nielsen was notably a serious actor until his comedic breakthrough in Zucker’s “Airplane!” Don’t expect Neeson to become known for comedy flicks like Nielsen, but there’s a noticeable similarity in their respective journeys.

Although Neeson plays the role exceptionally well, I prefer Nielsen’s performance. His deadpan delivery is simply unbeatable, creating a consistently funny picture.

Pamela Anderson plays Beth Davenport, Simon’s sister, and in the same vein as Neeson, her performance doesn’t quite reach Priscilla Presley’s as Jane Spencer, the love interest in the original trilogy. Presley displayed a delightful charm, effortlessly feeding off Nielsen’s satirical antics. But, the chemistry between Anderson and Neeson still gets the job done.

While the lead performances in “The Naked Gun” don’t surpass those of the original, the film outdoes the precursor in action. The slapstick is top-notch. At one point, Frank Jr. rips off an opponent’s arms and slaps him upside the head with them.

“The Naked Gun” also has laugh-out-loud moments that rival any bit in the franchise. Seth MacFarlane, director of “Ted” and creator-star of “Family Guy,” helped produce the film, so the outlandish comedy is no surprise.

During an interrogation, Frank Jr. and the team review body-cam footage, witnessing a chili dog incident. In dire need of a bathroom, Frank Jr. lets off a driver possessing an illegal firearm with a warning. Frank Jr.’s “breakfast of champions” — a chili dog and a black coffee — forces him to fire two bullets into a cafe ceiling to vacate an occupied restroom. Then, he admits to eating five more chili dogs after the fact.

In my favorite scene, which had me dying of laughter in a nearly empty theater, Sig spies through Frank Jr.’s curtains with thermal binoculars, watching misleading silhouettes. Taking a page from “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” Beth, cleaning the oven behind Frank Jr., turns into grotesque sexual acts, eventually including a dog.

“The Naked Gun” also boasts notable originality. The atmosphere differs from the Nielsen pictures in a sense, parodying modern action more than classic film noir. Instead of relying on old jokes or nostalgia bait, it tastefully pays homage. Frank Jr.’s team features sons of former Police Squad members, “Weird Al” Yankovic makes a cameo (stay for the credits) and the stuffed beaver makes an appearance.

Toward the climax, Jane even shows up for a brief moment — something I didn‘t realize in theaters.

Despite achieving the highest Rotten Tomatoes critic score of the four films, I’m partial to all three Nielsen flicks. Although, this new entry is on a par with, if not better than, “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” and “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult.”

While not reaching the heights of Zucker’s 1988 classic, Schaffer’s reboot is an incredible sign for comedies. It’s refreshing to not see Netflix attached to this project (looking at you, “Happy Gilmore 2”).

Get a group of friends around and see “The Naked Gun” in the fullest setting possible — hysterically laughing in theaters is so back.

Published on August 14, 2025 at 12:39 pm