movie review: the naked gun

Movie Review: The Naked Gun
By Jeff DeRouen

Let me be absolutely clear: I adore disgusting jokes. For folks like me, there is no bar too low when it comes to what will elicit fits of laughter from us so jolting we struggle to contain our loud accidental farts like the character on screen trying to hilariously outrun the chili dog runs.

I know this truth about myself because I am the primary source, the living data, telling you that The Naked Gun is so funny, the aforementioned “hypothetical” could happen to you. Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson lead a pack of serious actors like Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, and CCH Pounder, who completely commit to some of the stupidest, funniest, bits and jokes I’ve seen in a movie in years.

A reboot like this could have been a lazy retread, but director Akiva Schaffer manages to stick to the old playbook (smartly) and keep the material fresh. Please don’t think I’m hailing this movie as a comedy masterpiece or a work of cinematic importance; it’s not, and that’s part of the charm. The Naked Gun isn’t meant to change your life, just your day.

I hope that folks use this film as an opportunity to forget about all the pain in the world, the difficulty of making ends meet, and the constant onslaught of political propaganda. It’s ok to step out of the real world for a bit to find some joy, and The Naked Gun is a surefire way to make you smile – especially if you think poop is funny.