85 min | PG-13 | August 1, 2025 | Paramount Pictures
Akiva Schaffer reboots Police Squad with Liam Neeson playing Frank Drebin Jr. The deadpan absurdity translates perfectly. This is what comedy reboots should be.
Comedy franchises age poorly. What was funny in 1988 often does not work in 2025. The Naked Gun reboot succeeds by understanding what made the original work and trusting that same formula with new performers. Frank Drebin Jr. leads Police Squad in investigating a murder while the department faces closure. The plot is irrelevant. The jokes are everything. The film delivers sight gags, wordplay, and escalating absurdity with the same rapid-fire energy as the original.
Liam Neeson plays Drebin with gravelly seriousness that makes every ridiculous line land harder. He never winks at the camera. He plays every scene completely straight while chaos erupts around him. That is the key to this humor. Pamela Anderson plays opposite him with full commitment to the bit. The supporting cast understands the assignment. Play it serious. Let the absurdity do the comedy. Weird Al Yankovic and Priscilla Presley appear in cameos that respect the original while finding new gags.
Akiva Schaffer directed Popstar and Hot Rod. He knows how to construct comedy set pieces and maintain momentum. The film runs eighty-five minutes and never slows down. The jokes come fast enough that if one misses, another hits. The production design recreates the visual style of the original without feeling like cosplay. The action sequences are staged with the same stunt-driven chaos. The film earns its PG-13 rating while maintaining the spirit of the R-rated original.
This is a rare comedy reboot that understands its source material and delivers a faithful update without losing what made it special. The film respects the ZAZ tradition of deadpan absurdity and proves that style still works when executed with precision and commitment.