Legendary Hollywood actor Liam Neeson shocked fans and audiences with his portrayal of Frank Drebin Jr. in The Naked Gun (2025). In this hilarious reboot of the iconic Naked Gun franchise, Neeson wasn’t his usual gravelly voice, avenging action hero, not really. In fact, the man known for his high-profile skills traded them for a hilarious set of ridiculous gags.
Every sequence framed this movie as exactly the unlikely, but perfectly unsentimental holiday film we didn’t know we needed. In essence, the movie proved that sometimes the best way to bring a family closer during the holidays isn’t through heartwarming lessons, but through well-timed humor. After all, some of the best Christmas movies aren’t Christmas-themed at all.
From ‘Taken’ to Taken for a Laugh – Liam Neeson’s Deadpan Flip
Let’s be real, the main surprise in this movie was seeing Neeson pull off the role of Frank Drebin Jr. to perfection. Why? It was a far cry from his Taken movie franchise days, where he played a father who harnessed his deadly abilities to protect his family. Years of roles like that one have conditioned fans to imagine him breaking down doors. However, it is a pleasant surprise to see him flawlessly combine his usual stone-cold seriousness with all the silliness present in The Naked Gun.
For instance, the scene where he interrogates a suspect with his usual intensity while chaos unfolds behind him perfectly sums up his character arc. However, this performance didn’t just happen overnight. Even Neeson himself admitted in an interview with Variety that he “…had a couple of apprehensions…” Nevertheless, he studiously channeled the late master Leslie Nielsen, who built his acting career on playing the absurd with sincerity, and the understanding that the key to pulling off roles like this was never winking at the audience. That dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans who pointed out that Neeson’s deadpan performance closely mirrors that of Nielsen, and that he “crushed it” in ways they didn’t expect. He’s not trying to be funny; he’s trying to be Frank Drebin, and this approach perfectly serves the film’s second great strength: its status as a modern holiday classic.
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Why ‘The Naked Gun’ Should Be on Your Holiday Film Roster
Holiday movies do not always need to include Santa hats and sleigh bells. Sometimes, what the family needs is a movie like this to escape the tedious routine of the holidays. The Naked Gun’s slapstick comedy, like the scene where Neeson’s character gets entangled in balloons and bees while in a high-speed getaway car, hits every time. Additionally, the film’s brisk, modern pacing ensures you never fall behind. Even if you miss a joke while grabbing a pie, you’ll catch the next one instantly.
Another reason The Naked Gun works as a perfect holiday movie is the group effect it has. This is an experience fans have noticed from earlier theater reactions, as one Redditor described it, “…honestly can’t remember the last time I was in a theater and you consistently heard pretty much the whole audience laughing at a majority of the jokes.” It’s a reaction that captures the essence of the holiday spirit, when people want to unwind and laugh together, without getting bogged down by dense plots and heavy drama.
Moreover, the best holiday movies are the ones everyone can resonate with and enjoy. That quality is something The Naked Gun has in spades, as it manages to unite different generations. Parents and grandparents get a hit of nostalgia from the callbacks to the original trilogy. These include absurdly named villains, over-the-top love montages, and even a few cameo nods. Additionally, casting Neeson as Frank Debin Jr., the son of Nielsen’s iconic character, ties the legacy together while giving the story a fresh lead.
Nostalgia, Reboot, & Generational Hooks – ‘The Naked Gun’ Bridges the Gap
Notably, this reboot works so well because it doesn’t just rely on nostalgia. While the older generation gets a thrill from O.G. references, the filmmakers also took great pains to update the jokes with references younger audiences can instantly recognize. From tech billionaire villains inspired by Elon Musk, to pop culture winks at Sex and the City and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, everyone gets a full dose of the humor being dished out.
Ultimately, critics have praised the film, agreeing that it strikes the perfect balance. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it “amiably ridiculous, entirely pointless, and guilelessly crass,” while another described it as “a dumb comedy of the expert kind.” Both critics are right, because the movie doesn’t try to be complex; it simply wants to give audiences a good time. During the holidays, when mental bandwidth is low, that’s the only assignment that really matters.
So, if you’re looking for a movie that will make you laugh this holiday, watch The Naked Gun (maybe include the original trilogy as well) on Prime Video with your family and see if Neeson’s deadpan offering lands for you.
