00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at why The Naked Gun, the new version, is the best
00:13comedy of 2025. A few spoilers may follow. 10. Not Banking on Nostalgia
00:28Legacy sequels exist to bring back longtime fans, while introducing the franchise to another
00:34generation, although some deliver on the fan service part. Appealing to newcomers is easier
00:43said than done. Take Happy Gilmore 2, for example. We liked that Legacy sequel, but much of our
00:50enjoyment hinged on our knowledge of its predecessor. If you hadn't seen the first film, the sequel
00:56could play like a series of punchlines without the setups. The Naked Gun avoids this, relying
01:03on fresh jokes cut from the same cloth as the original trilogy. Even when we do get a callback,
01:12like Frank passing by a stuffed beaver, the film doesn't dwell on it by winking at the
01:17camera. It's already progressed to the next joke. 9. Pushing the PG-13 rating to its limit.
01:36There's a misconception that comedies need to be loaded with four-letter words and raunchy imagery
01:41to bring the laughs. While we are all for hard R-rated comedies, the constraints that come with
01:48the PG-13 rating sometimes lead to sharper humor. Since the characters can't swear every few minutes,
01:55the filmmakers need to get creative when it comes to the edgier jokes. The Zucker Abraham's Zucker team
02:01mastered this, revealing just how far you can go with the PG-13 rating, or even a PG rating before that.
02:08By the way, I faked every organ. The new Naked Gun similarly tests the MPA with innuendos that are
02:17about as graphic as you can get without actually being explicit. Younger audiences can still buy a
02:24ticket, but they'll still feel like they're getting away with something naughty. 8. Not afraid to be
02:34relentlessly silly. We appreciate comedies that strike a balance between laughs and depth.
02:45With a lot of comedies, though, we admittedly find ourselves tuning out during the dramatic
02:50moments. We're mainly here for the funny stuff. The Naked Gun understands our needs, going for broke
02:57in the silly department. Every time it seems like the film might take itself even remotely seriously,
03:07it blindsides us with the goofiest of bits, be it Pamela Anderson scat singing or Liam Neeson
03:13dropping a chili dog bomb. At one point, the film even becomes Jack Frost with a menage
03:20a trois twist. As was the case with the OG trilogy, the jokes always take priority over the plot.
03:27Hell, the plot device is a literal PLOT device. 7. The Visual Gags
03:39You need to watch The Naked Gun multiple times to catch every joke. There's so much going on in the
03:46foreground that it's easy to miss the hidden gems in the background. Crypto.com Arena being replaced
03:55with Ponzi Scheme.com Arena is an especially inspired touch for every visual gag you miss.
04:03There's another so on the nose that it practically performs rhinoplasty.
04:08Car. Open doors. Pretty fun, I guess. We're not complaining, as many modern comedies forget that
04:14film is a visual medium. The Naked Gun takes full advantage of this. Highlights include a coffee cup
04:21running gag that just keeps getting funnier, and an extravagantly hilarious crane game set piece.
04:27It might seem like a dumb comedy, which it is, but it's not for those, with a short attention span.
04:34Picked up your knife for you. Okay.
04:376. Cleverly Written Jokes
04:40For all the visual humor, The Naked Gun is also loaded with witty wordplay.
04:45Says you served 20 years for man's laughter. You mean manslaughter? Must have been quite the joke.
04:51Some jokes are smart, others are knowingly stupid, and most of them find a middle ground.
04:57Either way, you'll be quoting several lines walking out of the theater.
05:01Cover me. Enough playing around.
05:03Weirdly enough, most contemporary comedies seem devoid of traditional jokes, instead relying on
05:09actors to improvise dialogue that'll hopefully sound funnier than what's on the printed page.
05:16The Naked Gun is a genuine throwback to old-school comedy, complete with a sharp script from director
05:22Akiva Schaefer, Dan Greger, and Doug Mann. It's not the first time this trio has captured the spirit of a
05:28classic 1988 comedy. They previously worked on Chippendale Rescue Rangers, a modern Roger Rabbit.
05:365. Timeless Comedy
05:40Standing the test of time can be especially difficult for comedy. What was funny to audiences 30 years ago
05:47might not land with today's crowd for various reasons, yet the Naked Gun trilogy still holds
05:53up decades later, even with O.J. Simpson's presence.
06:05Many of the jokes from this legacy sequel just as easily could have been used in the 1988 classic.
06:11Some moments are more tailored toward 21st century viewers, such as a reference to Janet Jackson's
06:16wardrobe malfunction and a major plot point involving electric cars.
06:20When people look back years later, though, most of the jokes will have the same impact.
06:34Puns and slapstick will always have a place in comedy, showing that the most timeless comedies
06:41are often the broadest.
06:424. See Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer
06:49This is how you do satire. Parody films have never completely gone away, although
06:55Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans are just a few that have given spoofs a bad name lately.
07:00We hesitate to even describe those as parodies, as they don't satirize… anything. They merely
07:15acknowledge that other movies exist, whether or not they connect. The Naked Gun actually lampoons
07:22a genre, sending up police procedurals in spy movies like Mission Impossible. Akiva Schaefer already
07:28gave us one of the past decade's best parodies with pop star, Never Stop, Never Stopping…
07:44With Naked Gun, he understands that the closer a parody matches the genuine artifact, the funnier
07:51it'll be. The opening is shot like a legitimate crime drama, making it all the more jarring when
07:58Liam Neeson shows up in Pigtails.
08:013. Honoring the Original
08:08At one point, Liam Neeson kneels before a photo of Leslie Nielsen, saying that he wants to be just
08:15like him… but also stand on his own. This is basically the same goal of every legacy sequel…
08:22Although most of them fall short. Some stick too close to the original, repeating what we've seen
08:30before. Others strive to be different, but wind up straying too far from what made the original special.
08:37The Naked Gun manages to dodge these pitfalls. The occasional callback aside, the jokes are
08:49primarily original, yet none of them are above or below what the Zucker Abraham's Zucker Crew would
08:56have given us years ago. For those who haven't seen the original films, seeking them out will be a
09:02priority after this sequel.
09:052. The Actors Play It 100% Straight
09:15Like Leslie Nielsen, Neeson started as a dramatic actor. It wasn't until later in his career that
09:21people noticed the untapped comedic potential. What made Nielsen's performance work… is that
09:27Frank Drebin doesn't realize he's in a comedy.
09:303. They were able to… so they were able to get him to the hospital in time.
09:343. Yes, he's in the intensive care ward at Our Lady of the Worthless Miracle.
09:38The same can be said about Frank Drebin Jr., with Neeson reading his dialogue as if he were doing
09:44Taken 4. Pamela Anderson, who seems to be in the midst of a career renaissance, also fully commits
09:56to playing a femme fatale, no matter how ridiculous the movie's surrounding her is. Whether it's a
10:01supporting player like Paul Walter Houser in Danny Houston or just a cameo like Dave Bautista, everyone
10:07approaches the material with more gravitas than it deserves, which is part of the joke.
10:341. One Joke After Another
10:38In addition to the original trilogy, this sequel reminded us of Family Guy during its prime.
10:49Unsurprisingly, producer Seth MacFarlane provides a common link.
10:53MacFarlane's brand of comedy aligns with Zucker Abraham Zuckers,
10:58committing to making the audience laugh every second or so.
11:012. Playtime's over.
11:04On the rare occasion that a joke doesn't land, the film follows it up with several more that hit
11:10bullseyes. In some cases, you'll miss one joke because you're still laughing about one from the
11:15previous scene. The film only clocks in at 85 minutes, making the most of every moment. This includes both the opening
11:24title and end credits. In an era where most comedies are truly dramas with sporadic funny moments,
11:31The Naked Gun finds the genre in its purest form.
11:37What moment from The Naked Gun made you laugh
11:40the hardest? Let us know in the comments.
11:45Buy your tickets now and get a free Tilly Dog. Tilly Dog not included.
11:57Now, bring out the
12:22family,
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