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You can have a good time at the movies and the movie doesn’t have to necessarily be good. There’s a sense of community that comes from being in a big dark room with a bunch of strangers. You’re all looking at a flickering screen in front of you, collectively laughing or crying or shrieking at the images projected upon it.
Movies are our modern campfire where we share ghost stories, hilarious jokes, and tales of high adventure. Sometimes, just going to the movies can be a joyous experience unto itself. You feed off the energy of the crowd and simply enjoy being out. Such was the case when I was watching the new Naked Gun movie with Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.
That’s not to say that it’s quality cinema, but it IS extremely entertaining. Spawned from Police Squad, an ’80’s TV parody of cop shows, The Naked Gun franchise was never considered elite filmmaking. It’s always been the zenith of brainless humor. Full of dumb jokes and sight gags, the Naked Gun movies starred Leslie Nielsen as inept detective Frank Drebin with George Kennedy as his beleaguered partner, Ed Hocken.
This franchise ran out of gas by 1994, but it is remembered fondly by a legion of ardent fans. One of them is writer/director Akiva Shaffer (Hot Rod and The Watch), who is also one-third of the musical comedy group The Lonely Island (along with SNL alum/Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone). Shaffer joined producer Seth MacFarlane, the comic maestro behind Family Guy, Ted, and The Orville, to bring The Naked Gun into the 21st Century.
Neeson plays Detective Frank Drebin Jr., who is just as dedicated, just as deadpan, and just as ridiculous as his dad. He’s joined by Paul Walter Hauser (from I, Tonya and the new Fantastic Four flick) as his partner, Ed Hocken Jr. Together, they investigate the homicide of a computer genius working for a visionary tech billionaire.
He is played with magnificent bluster by Danny Huston (Wonder Woman, 30 Days of Night, and son of John Huston, legendary director of The Maltese Falcon). He soon draws Drebin’s suspicion and the game is afoot. But we’re not talking intricate thrillers here. The plot is just a thin frame on which to promote prat falls, fart jokes, and innuendo.
The real pleasure of this movie is watching Neeson, famous for serious turns in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Batman Begins, and the Taken franchise, gloriously lampoon his image. He ricochets from one absurd moment to the next, supported by a game cast that’s totally in on the joke. Pamela Anderson is delightful as his leading lady, keeping a straight face through all this silliness. Both Neeson and Anderson check their egos at the door.
They embrace the buffoonery and it’s pure joy to watch. Applauded last year for her dramatic role in The Last Showgirl, Anderson deserves equal praise for her comedic chops here. When she starts scat singing in one scene, you’ll forget about all that Baywatch baggage and wonder where Pam has been all your life. She and her leading man display an effortless chemistry.
Neeson and Anderson are surprisingly well matched, sharing the laughs rather than competing for them. They seem to genuinely have affection for each other, and that translates to the screen. Rumors are swirling that these two are an item. I don’t normally pay attention to celebrity couples, but if these two are dating, then I’m all for it. Pameliam Anderneeson 4 Ever!
I had a blast at this movie. I took my teenage son, his friend, and a couple of my pals. We made a boy’s night of it. We ate bacon, wrestled grizzly bears, and laughed our asses off. Maybe we were just in the right frame of mind or this flick truly is outrageously funny. You’ll have to decide for yourself. All I can say is that my crew had an awesome time. And we weren’t alone.
The theater was packed and everyone righteously guffawed throughout the whole thing. There’s something wonderful about enjoying a movie with a Saturday night crowd. The enthusiasm is contagious. Forget your troubles for a little while and go see this movie with an audience right now.
I don’t think it’s comic genius, but everyone involved clearly understood the assignment. The Naked Gun delivers big, easy laughs for a sublimely silly 85 minutes. As we were leaving the theater, my jaded teenaged spawn gave me a big smile and said, “That movie was really funny.” Thank you, Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, and company for The Naked Gun. I probably won’t remember it in a month, but I’ll never forget how this movie made me feel.
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Author: Jeff Stanford
Nerd Dad who loves his family, coffee and movies.
