Here’s an early “Naked Gun” reaction from Joblo’s Jimmy Theo, which is highly positive, but as with all early takes, should be taken with a grain of salt. I’m not seeing this one until the week of release, but Paramount beginning to screen it, well over two weeks before its theatrical launch, is a sign of confidence.
My thoughts? Holy hell, The Naked Gun is the funniest flick I’ve seen for a while. Liam Neeson is so freaking perfect as Frank Drebin Jr. and the comedic chemistry he shares [with] Pamela Anderson is absolutely wonderful. Ms. Anderson is an exceptionally funny comic actress! One sequence in particular had me in tears, laughing so hard. You can see part of it in the trailer. But the compact 85-minute runtime makes this an enjoyable watch from start to finish. It’s consistently funny! If you want to laugh - a whole lot - go see [this movie].
“The Naked Gun,” arriving August 1, will try to revive the comedy genre at the multiplex. I hope it succeeds. Liam Neeson (the name similarity to Leslie Nielsen hasn’t gone unnoticed) steps into the shoes of Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jr. He’s joined by Pamela Anderson — interestingly, once in the running for Anna Nicole Smith’s role in the third film — and Paul Walter Hauser.
According to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), the film clocks in at a breezy 85 minutes. Subtract end credits, and you’re likely looking at 80 minutes of pure gag-driven comedy. Coincidence? The first two entries in the ‘Naked Gun’ trilogy were also 85 minutes.
