Naked Gun lands laughs in new reboot

Two LA comedies vie for laughs as The Naked Gun reboot lands in theaters while Freakier Friday misses the mark.

Naked Gun Reboot Delivers Laughs Freakier Friday Falters

In theaters, The Naked Gun reboot lands more laughs than Freakier Friday. The film, directed by Akiva Schaffer, follows Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. played by Liam Neeson as he and his partner investigate a bank heist tied to a powerful electric car billionaire. The quick-fire gags, goofy slapstick, and non sequiturs feel faithful to the original series while letting Neeson lean into a familiar comic voice. Pamela Anderson returns as Beth Davenport, delivering club scenes and crude innuendo with surprising charm. A body camera gag and a few timely nods to headlines of the era sharpen the comedy without feeling forced.

Freakier Friday cannot sustain the same rhythm. Directed by Nisha Ganatra, it expands the body swap premise from the 2003 film, stacking four leads in a convoluted setup. Lindsay Lohan is strong as Anna, now a music manager and single mom, while Julia Butters plays her daughter Harper. The ensemble adds energy but the running jokes feel crowded, and Curtis’s performance often leans into one-note exaggeration. Lohan proves she remains a deft comic presence, even as the premise drags and the emotional core struggles to land amid the chaos.

The Naked Gun reboot demonstrates how nostalgia can work when it serves the current audience rather than merely revisiting old receipts. It nods to Leslie Nielsen’s legacy while giving Neeson room to breathe as a new Drebin, and that balance keeps the humor sharp. The film’s willingness to wink at late 90s headlines while staying anchored in today’s pop culture helps it feel fresh rather than dusty. Freakier Friday reveals the risk of expanding a premise without tightening the core comedy engine; more bodies swapped and meta bits can dilute the punchline. Lohan’s return is a bright spot, proving that timing and energy outpace age in comedy, even when a sequel stumbles.

Highlights

The theater landscape still welcomes genuine comedy, even as studios chase big franchises.