Why So Blu?

The Naked Gun (2025) (Blu-ray Review)

There’s something oddly comforting about a Naked Gun movie landing in theaters in 2025. Maybe it’s the promise of pure, unfiltered silliness in a world that’s gotten way too serious, or maybe it’s the novelty of watching Liam Neeson—a man whose cinematic life has been defined by grim monologues and special-set skills—step into the universe of rimshot gags and banana-peel timing. Either way, this reboot/sequel arrives with a surprising spring in its step and a strong understanding of the legacy it’s carrying. And yeah… it’s actually pretty fun.

Film

A Return to Absurdity — And It Feels Pretty Great

The story follows Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson), son of the legendary deadpan disaster magnet Frank Drebin (the late, immortal Leslie Nielsen). Junior is a capable but terminally unlucky detective trying desperately to live up to the family name while also surviving his precinct’s budget cuts, a wave of absurd new criminals, and his own chronic ability to fall off of or through anything. When a high-profile tech mogul’s scheme threatens national security—and public sanity—Drebin Jr. is pulled into a case that spirals from simple surveillance into global pandemonium. Along the way, he connects with bombshell Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), whose involvement is either a coincidence… or another setup waiting to explode in his face.

The Drebin Dynasty

Taking on the Drebin mantle is no small task—Leslie Nielsen’s delivery is as iconic as slapstick gets. What Neeson wisely does not do is imitate Nielsen beat for beat. Instead, he blends his own stone-faced intensity with the franchise’s classic clueless bravado. The result is both affectionate and fresh: he feels like Drebin’s son, not a replacement.

There are moments where you swear he’s channeling the spirit of the old films—mostly when he’s strolling seriously into a scene while the chaos behind him ramps up by the second—but Neeson also brings a surprising looseness. His timing is sharper than you’d expect, and he leans into the absurdity with a kind of “sure, why not?” commitment that ends up being a real asset. In short: he stands tall next to Nielsen’s legacy without feeling like he’s trapped by it.

Neeson & Anderson: Odd Couple, Right Chemistry

Pairing Liam Neeson with Pamela Anderson sounds like a Mad Libs entry, but… it works. Anderson brings throwback Hollywood-comedy energy, playing her character with a wink and a self-aware charm that balances Neeson’s stoicism perfectly. Their comedic rhythm is surprisingly strong—she’s the confident chaos, he’s the accidental whirlwind—and their scenes together give the film a warm center.

A few standout bits, including a parody of celebrity red-carpet culture and a disastrously romantic dinner gone wrong, really highlight how well they bounce off each other

Classic Gags, Modern Mayhem

The film doesn’t shy away from the franchise staples: absurd literal jokes, runaway props, deadpan police briefings, and the kind of visual humor that would make Zucker, Abrahams & Zucker proud.

Is every joke a winner? Of course not—it’s a Naked Gun movie. When it swings big and misses, it misses with style. But when it lands, it lands hard, earning those full-body laughs that made the originals so lovable. There are also a couple of sly nods to Police Squad! fans, including blink-and-you’ll-miss-them sight gags that reward eagle-eyed viewers.

Standing With the Classics

What’s most refreshing is how the movie honors Nielsen without drowning in nostalgia. It remembers what made the originals great—earnest stupidity, fearless parody, and a hero who stays sincere no matter how ridiculous things get—yet it lets this new chapter evolve with the times.

Frank Drebin Jr. isn’t trying to be the new Frank Drebin. He’s trying to survive being Frank Drebin, and that’s where the humor thrives.

So… Does It Work?

Honestly? Yeah. I went in expecting a mixed bag and came out pleasantly surprised. It’s not flawless, but it’s fun, it’s spirited, and it respects the legacy it’s continuing. Neeson proves surprisingly adept at physical comedy without losing his trademark gravitas, and Anderson adds just the right amount of playful sparkle to counterbalance him.

Most importantly, the movie feels like a real Naked Gun entry—not a parody of a parody, or a reboot straining to be clever. Just straight-up, good-natured foolishness executed with conviction.

Video 

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the 4K UHD Blu-ray

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Region: A
HDR: N/A
Layers: BD-50

Clarity and Detail:
The Naked Gun lands on Blu-ray with a clean, bright, and sharply defined 1080p transfer that suits the film’s playful, high-energy visual style. Fine detail is strong throughout, from the textured production design of the police precinct to the more elaborate set pieces packed with sight gags. Close-ups highlight facial expressions and the subtle deadpan nuances that power this kind of comedy, while wider shots maintain excellent stability and sharpness. It’s not a revelation compared to modern 4K releases, but it’s easily the best the film has looked at home.

Depth:
Depth is solid for a 2D comedy presentation. Foreground elements stay nicely separated, and the film’s busier moments—crowded hallways, chaotic action beats, and physical-comedy-heavy sequences—retain good dimensionality. While not cinematic-epic tier, the spatial layering gives the humor room to breathe and helps sight gags land cleanly.

Black Levels:
Black levels are respectably deep without crushing detail. Night sequences and darker interiors maintain clear shadow separation, helping visual punchlines remain readable. It’s not the inkiest transfer out there, but it’s consistent and never distracting.

Color:
Colors lean toward bright, poppy, and slightly stylized—matching the film’s heightened comedic world. Reds and blues in uniforms and signage are bold without bleeding, and overall saturation feels natural but energetic. The palette keeps the movie lively without drifting into garish territory.

Flesh Tones:
Skin tones look natural and stable across varying lighting conditions. Liam Neeson’s more rugged features and Pamela Anderson’s polished on-screen look are both well-represented, and the transfer avoids the waxiness or oversaturation that sometimes plagues comedies on Blu-ray.

Noise and Artifacts:
The encode is clean and efficient. Light grain is retained naturally without smearing, and there are no visible compression hiccups. No banding, blocking, or edge enhancement appears during static or fast-moving sequences, making this a smooth, artifact-free presentation.

Overall, The Naked Gun arrives on Blu-ray with a strong, polished 1080p transfer that supports both the film’s humor and its slicker, modern visual execution.

Audio

Audio Format(s): English Dolby Atmos, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish

Dynamics:
The Dolby Atmos track for The Naked Gun delivers a surprisingly lively and punchy dynamic range for a comedy. Musical cues, environmental sounds, and exaggerated slapstick effects hit with clarity and a bit more weight than expected. The mix knows when to go big—during pratfalls, chases, and large-scale comedic chaos—but also dials back appropriately for dialogue-driven exchanges. It’s a balanced, energetic track that keeps the film feeling modern without overwhelming its classic, deadpan tone.

Height:
Height channels are used tastefully and playfully, enhancing vertical movement during physical gags, overhead mishaps, and crowd chaos without ever becoming gimmicky. Helicopters, collapsing signage, falling props, and the occasional high-flying punchline make good use of the Atmos layer. It’s not an aggressive object-based mix, but it adds fun dimension that enhances the absurdity.

Low Frequency Extension:
Low-end presence is moderate but effective. Explosions, crashes, thuds, and slapstick impacts get a satisfying low-end bump without ever sounding overcooked. The LFE supports the comedy rather than dominating it—enough to bring weight to big moments while keeping the presentation light on its feet.

Surround Sound Presentation:
Surrounds are active and nicely immersive. Crowd noises, background chatter, ambient street elements, and the layered sound design of chaotic sequences fill out the room naturally. Directional cues help some jokes land harder—especially when a gag whips across the screen or a prop sails in from off-camera. For a comedy, the rear and side channels get more attention than expected, resulting in a genuinely cinematic mix.

Dialogue:
Dialogue is crisp, centered, and consistently intelligible. Liam Neeson’s dry line delivery cuts cleanly through even the busiest soundscapes, and Pamela Anderson’s scenes balance well without harshness or sibilance. The mix excels at preserving comedic timing, ensuring punchlines aren’t buried under music or effects.

Overall, the Atmos track is a spirited, well-crafted mix that elevates The Naked Gun beyond typical comedy audio design. It’s immersive, playful, and full of personality—enhancing the film’s humor while delivering a polished home theater experience.

Extras

There are a well rounded set of extras that accompany The Naked Gun, along with a digital code and slipcover.  The 4K release is identical except for the format of course!

Bonus Features:

• A Legacy of Laughter – Cast and crew discuss the series and their love of it.
• Son of a (Naked) Gun – All about Frank Drebin Jr., er, Liam Neeson and how he got into character.
• On Set of a Set Within a Set that’s in a Set – 4th wall breaking of the best kind.
• The Funny Femme Fatale – All about Beth Davenport, as embodied by Ms. Pamela Anderson.
• The Really Unusual Suspects – The supporting cast gets their due here.
• Dropping the Balls – The production team and the stunt department get their due here, discussing the climactic scene.
• Outtakes Montage
• Deleted and Extended Scenes – Given the film’s short running time (85 minutes), I don’t know why at least some of these could have been included.
  • WWFC Outtakes
  • Bank Fight #1 — Extended
  • Bank Fight #2 — Extended
  • Noir Opening — Alternate
  • Last Year’s Incident Joke — Alternate
  • Cane’s Boardroom — Deleted
  • Beth Scat — Extended
  • Frank Sees Wolf — Deleted
  • Tivo — Alternate
  • Facade Moment — Extended
  • Frank and Ed See Balls — Deleted
  • Skybox — Deleted
  • Beth Weapons — Extended
  • Frank Rant in Octagon — Deleted
  • Frank and Cane Under Arena — Extended
  • Frank and Ed Under Arena — Deleted
  • Revenge Kill Speech — Extended
• Gorilla Nut – A parody advertisement.
• Muscle Slime – Another parody ad.

Summary

Final Verdict

If you loved the original Naked Gun films, you should absolutely give this one a try. It’s a worthy continuation of the Drebin lineage, a surprisingly charming comedy, and proof that the world still has room for banana-peel cop movies. I’d recommend it for a weekend laugh, a nostalgia fix, or just to see Liam Neeson deliver a joke while walking through a collapsing crime scene like it’s Tuesday.

The Naked Gun (2025) is Now Available!

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