By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"TAKEN...FOR LAUGHS: LIAM NEESON RELOADS "THE NAKED GUN"
It seems
Liam Neeson has discovered another particular set of skills: making us laugh. The 73-year-old action star, best known for his brooding roles as vigilante killers and hard-edged heroes ("Ice Road: Vengeance" and "Run All Night 2") takes a leap into comedy with "The Naked Gun."
In this reboot directed by
Akiva Schaffer ("Pop Star: Never Stop Stopping"/TV's "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson") and penned by screenwriters
Dan Gregor ("Mother Mary") and
Doug Mand ("Rookie of the Year"/"Pretty Smart"), Neeson trades grim intensity for slapstick absurdity.
While the film, co-produced by
Seth MacFarlane, (TV's "Family Guy") doesn't quite recapture the chaotic brilliance of the original 1988 classic starring the late Leslie Nielsen, it has its moments.
In "The Naked Gun" Neeson plays police Detective Frank Drebin Jr. the role immortalized by Nielsen. Neeson's signature gravitas, so effective in action thrillers, is humorously misplaced in a world filled with chili dogs and bathroom disasters, wildly inappropriate double entendres, twisted punchlines, and a parade of "misunderstandings."
Some jokes land better than others. One standout and still funny scene after multiple trailer viewings is the "Mans Laughter" interrogation room bit with
Busta Rhymes. There's also a recurring gag about Frank's relentless coffee addiction, which adds to the film's zaniness.
Despite his bumbling nature, Frank is no rookie. He has been with the Los Angeles Police Squad, a special crime-fighting unit, long enough to know how to crack a case. His methods may be unorthodox, often landing him in hot water with his no-nonsense boss, Chief Davis (a funny CCH Pounder, "Avatar 4"), but somehow, they work.
Alongside his partner Ed Hocken Jr. (a funny Paul Walter Hauser, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"), Frank finds himself investigating a bizarre bank robbery tied to a mysterious safe deposit box, a murder, and a smug tech billionaire named Richard Cane (a delightfully over-the-top Danny Huston, TV's "Common Side Effects").
Complicating matters is the arrival of Beth Davenport (a terrific Pamela Anderson, "The Last Showgirl"), a sultry crime novelist who takes a strong interest in both the case and Frank himself. Naturally, Frank is smitten and over his head. The romantic entanglement leads to a series of ridiculous and sex-charged encounters that showcase Neeson and Anderson's wacky chemistry.
While "The Naked Gun" reboot might not reach the cult status of its predecessor, it succeeds in carving out its own space. It's a raunchy, laugh-out-loud comedy that dares to reimagine a beloved franchise without falling completely into parody.
Neeson's fearless turn proves he's not afraid to poke fun at himself and maybe we will see him mix things up again on the comedy front. He may have spent years threatening people over the phone, but now he's delivering punchlines--and surprisingly, they hit almost as hard.
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Go Ahead And Watch This Trailer For
"THE NAKED GUN"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
