Liam Neeson's Naked Gun reboot 'so dense with jokes and gags' audiences scramble to keep up
Prior to its launch, the Naked Gun remake faced enormous expectations given that the original featuring Leslie Nielsen had achieved cult status worldwide.
However, it appears Liam Neeson, who portrays Frank Drebin Jnr on a quest to crack a murder case and prevent his police department's closure, has smashed it out the park.
Directed and co-written by Akiva Schaffer, also known for being one third of The Lonely Island, the new film has opened to high praise, from film critics on Rotten Tomatoes, successfully delivering "deadpan buffoonery" whilst weaving in a compelling storyline.
One reviewer commented: "Director Akiva Schaffer and his co-writers, Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, get to the heart of the humor in a non-ironic, non-revisionist fashion."
A New York Times correspondent wrote: "As the movie continues, though, [Neeson] adds emotional texture to the character and another, somewhat similar yet also different-enough Frank Drebin emerges."
Meanwhile, another Times reviewer noted: "See it with an audience, and experience the rare and wonderful pleasure of a crowd scrambling to keep up with one of the stupidest films it's ever seen."
A fourth commentator observed: "So dense with jokes, gags and references to noir tropes and cop shows that it is impossible to clock them all on a single viewing."
Meanwhile a fourth person added: "Reviving a cult classic like The Naked Gun is a bit like bringing slapstick to a funeral - gutsy, awkward, and, when done right, oddly cathartic. Director Schaffer attempts just that, blending puns, parodies, and pop culture into a screwball cocktail... ".
And it appears the critics' views are shared by the Quaid army too. One fan declared: "A funny movie that delivered what was advertised!"
A second enthused: "loved this film. Silly and refreshing. Liam and Pam are awesome together." Whilst a third commented: "If you a fan of the originals will enjoy this. Classic Naked Gun humor gotta always be paying attention."
Beyond the movie's triumph, another hot topic amongst viewers has been the spark between Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson. Speaking to People magazine, Liam, 73, openly admitted to being "madly in love" with the mother of two.
He revealed to the publication: "With Pamela, first off, I'm madly in love with her."
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