Title – The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Director – David Zucker (Top Secret!)

Cast – Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, Ricardo Montalban, O.J. Simpson

Plot – Los Angeles police Detective Frank Drebin (Nielsen) faces his greatest challenge yet as he looks to thwart a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II on an upcoming visit to the city of angels.

“Just think; next time I shoot someone, I could be arrested”

Review by Eddie on 23/07/2025

Close to 40 years on from its initial release, it’s safe to say The Naked Gun needs no introduction.

The brainchild of comedic superpowers David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, the trio responsible for fellow genre classics Airplane and Top Secret!, this Police Squad spin-off that follows Leslie Nielsen’s bumbling police detective Frank Drebin on a journey through L.A to stop a potential assassination of a visiting Queen Elizabeth II is a laugh a minute exercise that embraces its silliness to achieve memorable results.

Soon to be re-imagined by Lonely Island member Akiva Schaffer with a Liam Neeson starring outing that is starting to appear more and more likely like a surprise winner, this original Gun sets the tone from its opening minutes as Drebin takes it to a room full of plotting world leaders in Beirut before the films opening credits begin to roll over the adventures of a very adventurous police siren, giving its audience an ample taste of what’s to be expected from a film that is intent on coming at you thick and fast at every given opportunity.

With every minute of its sub-90 minute running time loaded with a joke (or two), there’s no denying that not every joke, punchline or piece of slapstick jammed into David Zucker’s film works but the hit ratio found here is one that’s far above average and the amount of classic one-liners and situational hilarities on offer makes one wonder little as too why Gun has remained such a timeless comedic classic across all these years, a film enjoyed by repeat viewers and those discovering it for the first time.

Front and centre throughout this unashamedly goofy venture is the game and iconic Nielsen who has an absolute blast inhabiting Drebin on his mission that includes safe practices with Priscilla Presley’s Jane Spencer, event filled baseball matches, up close and personal statue interactions and some questionable parking moves.

Once known as a more straight up dramatic performer, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the shoes of Drebin with Nielsen’s timing, facial expressions and general presence a major reason as to why Gun ended up spawning a further two follow ups and a raft of imitators all looking to capture the same lightning in a bottle that was found here.

Upcoming reboot star Liam Neeson has his work cut out for him as he takes on the role of Frank’s son, here’s hoping he can do his legacy proud and prove to us all that there’s life still yet in the spoof film that has mostly gone to ground in today’s new movie-making climate.

Final Say –

Still holding up with the best of them all these years on from its launch, The Naked Gun may not be for all tastes but for anyone willing to embrace its zaniness and go along for the ride, there’s not many better ways to find a boatload of laughs.

4 steamrollers out of 5