The saying “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” can be applied to a variety of media forms. This can include art, commerce, or even people and important events. Applying that question to the world of the arts can mean a lot of different things. In the ever-evolving movie market, this applies to many film genres that don’t get the theatrical treatment as they once did. In 2025, that saying has never been more true than in studio comedies. That especially includes comedies like the 1980s classic Airplane! Or The Naked Gun film series. In honor of 2025’s The Naked Gun, it felt like a good time to revisit the original, The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad!
The Naked Gun: From the Files of The Police Squad! follows bumbling police detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen). After fellow officer Nordberg (O.J. Simpson) informs Frank of a growing heroin shipment in his city, a bigger case looms. This involves a shady businessman named Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalbán) who may be involved. As Drebin gets closer to Ludwig’s assistant Jane (Priscilla Pressley), things get admittedly personal. Especially when Drebin discovers a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. What follows is anything but a serious crime, mystery, or thriller story.
What makes The Naked Gun a rousing success comes down to one factor. It’s an uproariously hilarious genre send-up. That can be attributed to one significant detail. It’s easy to tell that writers David Zucker (also the director), Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Pat Proft are fans of the cop film genre. The film has a relatively simple cop story, “good cop vs bad businessman,” but pays attention to that genre’s rules. This includes the entire arc of hero and villain, with a love interest that changes sides over the story. When added together with the silly comedy, the results create something seamless.
Parody-esque comedy can be something quite challenging to pull off successfully. Compared to modern-day standards, it is something that has yet to be accomplished well. In certain cases, parody film jokes can only succeed through references. It wants to tell audiences, “remember that thing you know? That piece of oblique history? Well, we’re making fun of it! Isn’t that funny?” In actuality, that tends to be the furthest thing from the truth. Long gone are the days of movies like The Naked Gun.
One of the many great elements of the film’s comedy is that it does not rely on references. Instead, it is throwing jokes against the wall, simply hoping to get a laugh. In the wrong cast or creative’s hands, that can be grating to watch. The difference here has to go to the jokes’ rapid-fire precision. Once they start, every joke becomes a fast and furious barrage with each being funnier than the last. Being a 37-year-old film, I still want to avoid spoiling the jokes. For first-time fans like myself, that truly made each joke funnier than the last one. That strength can also be attributed to one key factor: the cast.
For these types of films to work, you have to have a committed cast and lead actor. In the case of Leslie Nielsen, he is more than just committed. He leans into every line with a profound dedication. Each delivery comes in with a level of self-seriousness that can’t help but be funny. Wisely playing every element in a deadpan way makes the laughs hit harder as the film progresses. The gags are strewn together with such precision that it feels like a highwire act. That precision shines brightly with Nielsen’s ability to play things perfectly serious. Every time you think it can’t get zanier, it does. Having him as our narrative protagonist helps that balance of seriousness and ridiculousness go down easily.
Even with a dynamite lead performance, it wouldn’t work without the supporting cast. This includes Ricardo Montalbán, Priscilla Presley, and George Kennedy, to name a few. Similarly to Nielsen, each actor has to play their role with a tinge of self-seriousness. Even being archetypal parts (crooked politician, damsel, tired police chief), they have to be in on the joke. They can’t treat themselves as anything more than serious people in a real “crime” story. Yet at the sametime, the film wisely doesn’t just make it a Leslie Nielsen “showcase.”
Yes, Nielsen is undoubtedly the star and frontman throughout the film’s 85-minute runtime. But the script wisely gives each of these actors a moment to shine. That does not mean they each get a single funny scene, but instead exist as recurring characters. It evenly distributes a plethora of funny moments amongst the cast. Yet, it never picks favorites over who comes out looking best in the film. The results of which make the comedy feel like more of an ensemble in ways one may not expect.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad! It’s a laugh-a-minute comedy. There is no political subtext (with one or two lines having some subtext in 2025 if you look for it), only focusing on belly laughs. Compared to most modern-day comedies, this sort of entertainment proved a welcome change of pace. Add in actors such as Nielsen leading the charge, and I only ask one question: How can you not have a good time with this film? Obviously, not every joke lands, but when they do, it is incredibly entertaining. One only hopes that Hollywood can eventually reach these levels of comedy highs again.
The Naked Gun: From The Files of Police Squad! is now available to purchase or stream at your retailer of choice.
Learn more about the film at the IMDB site for the title.
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