The Times of India
Aug 01, 2025, 12:29 pm is
3.5
Story: Goofball detective Frank Drebin Jr (Liam Neeson) must solve a murder case with the aid of the deceased’s gorgeous sister Beth (Pamela Anderson).Review: Before ‘Taken’ there was ‘Schindler’s List’ but Liam Neeson is widely known for his action movies. At 73, it looks like the man had had enough of ‘I will find you, and I will kill you’. He now wants to amuse you and himself. The Naked Gun, a spoof comedy reboot to Leslie Nielsen’s Naked Gun movies of the late 80s and 1990s, gives him the perfect opportunity.Director Akiva Schaffer brings the movies to a new audience, while retaining its mad essence and dumb theatrics. Here, the story is not absurd, absurdity is the story. Delectably dumb and delirious, you break into fits of laughter until your sides ache as Drebin tracks down a tech terrorist, who wishes to calm people up (lose their minds).While meaning is not what you seek here, the film unintentionally works as a hilarious social commentary. It reminds us of the pointless heated debates we engage in on social media and how we all need a plot device that can calm us down. Pamela Anderson, hypersexualized and objectified throughout her career, finally lands a role that doesn’t strip her of grace. Feminine and exuding an old-world Hollywood charm, she plays a woman in love beautifully. Her sweet and tender chemistry with Neeson elevates the film, even when the plot decides to take a vacation.While the film is predominantly a madcap comedy, action lovers won’t be too disappointed with Neeson at the helm of the Police Squad. There’s enough and more action to keep you hooked. If your favourite genre is people not taking themselves too seriously, you’ll love this one