We live in such conservative times that bringing back a period piece from almost forty years ago is fraught with potential problems. A lot of the humour from that time is almost taboo now, and audiences are more divided than ever. But with a surprisingly high strike rate for its jokes, this new version of The Naked Gun proves that nostalgia done right can still be highly entertaining.
The new Frank Drebin (this time the son), played by Liam Neeson, gets almost all the nuances correct, even the deadpan look when a joke bombs (intentionally or not). The Priscilla Presley character is played by Pamela Anderson this time, and she gets the mix of naivety and gumption right as well. Paul Walter Hauser also successfully stars as the old Police Chief’s son
All that is needed now is a silly plot to contain all the shenanigans, and this one is cobbled together from a few existing films. Mix together more than a bit of Kingsman: The Secret Service with the existing tropes from the previous films in the franchise, and you have a suitable structure for mirth and merriment. That it delivers the laughs so well is a testament to the love for what has come before.
There is still something so intoxicating about sitting in a darkened room filled with complete strangers and laughing your arse off. It really is the glue that holds together a society such as ours. Not every joke lands, but the ones that do bring about public unity and an inclusiveness that helps to illustrate how much humour is needed in these times.
Rob Hudson
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