Saturday, February 28, 2026
Friday, December 26, 2025
Wake Up Dead Man - Review: A Serviceable Whodunit That Favors Confusion Over Clues
An entertaining watch for the ensemble alone, though the mystery is a mixed bag.
Monday, December 22, 2025
Tuesday, December 02, 2025
Monday, December 01, 2025
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Monday, November 17, 2025
Saturday, November 08, 2025
Friday, November 07, 2025
Friday, October 31, 2025
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Monday, October 06, 2025
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Nobody 2 - Review: Hutch Mansell’s Deadly Family Vacation
A rare sequel that sticks to its guns without reinventing the wheel.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Naked Gun 2025 - Review: A Refreshingly Silly Return to Police Squad
Liam Neeson proves the franchise is in safe, deadpan hands.
Official Synopsis
Following in the clumsy footsteps of his iconic father, Detective Frank Drebin Jr. joins the ranks of Police Squad to crack a sprawling conspiracy. When a criminal plot threatens the core of the department and risks its permanent closure, Frank Jr. must combine absolute incompetence with a straight-faced commitment to duty. Under the precise direction of Akiva Schaffer and production of Seth MacFarlane, this reboot balances rapid-fire sight gags and old-school slapstick humor inside a polished, modern-day studio crime-thriller skin.
Expanded Ensemble
- Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr.
- Pamela Anderson as Lead Heroine
- Paul Walter Hauser as Ed
- Kevin Durand as Villain
- Danny Huston as Corporate Mastermind
- Liza Koshy as Detective Barnes
Expanded Architects
- Director: Akiva Schaffer
- Screenplay: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Akiva Schaffer
- Producers: Seth MacFarlane, Erica Huggins
- Cinematography: Brandon Trost
- Film Editor: Brian Scott Olds
- Music Composer: Lorne Balfe
Official Promotional Trailer
Production Info & Specifications
| Financial Budget | $42 Million |
| Capture Format | Digital / 1.85:1 Spherical Layout |
| Primary Locations | Atlanta, Georgia • Los Angeles, California |
| Production Label | Paramount Pictures • Fuzzy Door Productions |
"The film, clocking in at less than 90 minutes, is not at a handicap. It's an act of mercy. It allows audiences to catch their breath between laughs, and to keep the funny bone tingling. "— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: Akiva Schaffer
- Starring: Liam Neeson (Frank Drebin Jr.), Pamela Anderson
- Supporting: Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston
- Writers: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Akiva Schaffer
The Vision
Major kudos must go to Director Akiva Schaffer. This type of humor is notoriously difficult to pull off, yet Schaffer finds the perfect balance of visual gags, biting dialogue, and extreme situations. Clocking in at less than 90 minutes, the runtime is an act of mercy that keeps the energy high and the gag-per-minute ratio at an exhausting, delightful level.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- The Neeson Pivot: Neeson was initially nervous about the role, but Schaffer insisted his "deadly serious" action persona was the perfect fuel for Frank Drebin Jr.
- Pamela's Noir Roots: Pamela Anderson's character is a direct homage to the classic "femme fatale" archetypes of 1940s Film Noir.
- Lonely Island DNA: Director Akiva Schaffer brought in several Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping collaborators to sharpen the film's comedic timing.
- Classic Cameos: Hardcore fans should keep their eyes peeled for original Police Squad! bit players during the precinct background scenes.
✅ Pros
- Liam Neeson’s perfect, aloof, straight-laced take on the role.
- Rapid-fire gags that demand multiple viewings to catch everything.
- Pamela Anderson is surprisingly effective and genuinely funny.
❌ Cons
- Some modern meta-jokes lack the timeless quality of the original.
- Occasionally struggles to step out of Leslie Nielsen's shadow.
Full Review
An unabashedly and refreshingly silly affair, The Naked Gun makes a welcome return in 2025. While the film is connected in name and legacy only,as the original creatives, Zucker and Abrahams, have reluctantly passed the baton to Seth MacFarlane’s team,I can report that the franchise is in safe and capable hands. There are plenty of laughs to be found here, with gags and jokes coming at a mile-a-minute in this latest installment of Police Squad.
The film, clocking in at less than 90 minutes, is not at a handicap; rather, it’s an act of mercy. It allows audiences to catch their breath between laughs and keeps the funny bone tingling before the logical side of the brain has a chance to analyze the plot. Liam Neeson benefits from a straight-laced take as Frank Drebin Jr., maintaining that aloof, overly serious disposition that served Leslie Nielsen so well. The movie also features a surprisingly humorous Pamela Anderson, who delivers a fun take on the stereotypical noir bombshell without overplaying her hand.
Major kudos must go to director Akiva Schaffer, who also co-wrote the script. This type of humor is notoriously difficult to pull off, as demonstrated by the many horrible genre "parody" movies out there that don't even deserve to be mentioned by name. Schaffer finds the perfect balance of visual gags mixed with biting, silly dialogue and extreme situations. In lesser hands, this movie could have gone south very quickly, but it finds that comedic "sweet spot" that many parodies tend to blast right by.
Perhaps most telling is that I feel I may have missed half the jokes from laughing so much. I definitely want and need to watch the film again to fully appreciate the bits and layers of humor. This is a trait shared with the previous Naked Gun films, where new gags are still being discovered decades later. Watch The Naked Gun more than once—you likely won't regret it.
🏆 Final Verdict
A worthy successor that respects its roots while carving out its own goofy identity. Liam Neeson is the comedic hero we didn't know we needed. Shirley, you can't be serious about missing this one.
View original review on LetterboxdWednesday, September 17, 2025
Highest 2 Lowest - Review: A Spike Lee Joint with Many Layers
A soulful, New York-centric reimagining of a Kurosawa classic.
Monday, September 15, 2025
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Review: A Strange, Disjointed Return to the Afterlife
A wildly excessive hot mess that rewards die-hard fans but leaves others behind.
Wednesday, September 03, 2025
Together - Review: A Disturbing, Body-Horror Marriage Counseling
A perfectly serviceable body-horror film best served for genre fans.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
F1 - Movie Review: A Great High-Octane Visual Feast Stuck in a Generic Gear
Breathtaking racing sequences meet a "paint-by-numbers" script.
Fight or Flight - Review: A High-Altitude, Looney Tunes Die Hard
An amusing, uncomplicated ride with John Wick-style combat.
