Liam Neeson has been doing action movies for so long that it’s tough to remember what a funny guy he can be. Seth MacFarlane’s films Ted 2 and A Million Ways to Die in the West showed flashes of Neeson’s comedic chops, and that relationship with MacFarlane has lasted for years. It continues with The Naked Gun, which MacFarlane produces and Neeson stars, taking over the goofball lead role of Frank Drebin from the great Leslie Nielsen.
This version of The Naked Gun isn’t a remake, though. Instead, Neeson plays Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s character. Frank has followed in his father’s footsteps and become a cop of dubious distinction. In short, he’s an idiot. A heroic, brave, wildly oblivious idiot cop who stumbles from one incident after another.
The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer, the Lonely Island member known for directing Hot Rod, The Watch, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Hard to complain about that resume.
Pamela Anderson continues her career resurgence by joining Neeson in the cast. Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston co-star, as well.
SYNOPSIS: Only one man has the particular set of skills… to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father’s footsteps in “The Naked Gun,” directed by Akiva Schaffer (“Saturday Night Live,” Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (“Ted,” “Family Guy”).
The Naked Gun hits theaters on August 1st from Paramount Pictures.
