Who would have thought that the return of The Naked Gun series would herald not just a triumphant comeback for comedies but also one of our favourite Hollywood romances, uniting co-stars Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson in the real world.
Serving as both a sequel and a modern-day reboot of the classic Naked Gun series, this new interpretation brings back all of the slapstick comedy that made the originals so much fun to watch. Whether it be the never-ending cups of coffee consumed by Liam Neeson’s Frank Drebin (which seemingly appear out of thin air), or the way in which statements or suggestions are taken far too literally, the jokes are a mile a minute, but that’s exactly what makes watching it all in a cinema so much fun.
Much like seeing live stand-up comedy, there’s an eagerness to laugh if you’re in an audience, and if you’re having one of those days where you’re just not into the idea of diving into a three-hour long epic, a short 90-ish minute comedy can be just the thing to pick you up.
In fact, the creators of The Naked Gun seem to recognise as much as they’ve put out an ingenious public service announcement reminding us of the joy that comedy can bring, and why it needs your support more than ever.
The Naked Gun’s ingenious PSA
The video above, which is a brief minute or so trip down memory lane, is a great reminder of the many wonderful comedies that have graced our screens over the years. Whether that be the outrageously quotable Clueless, or the fast-paced joyride that is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, modern cinema owes a great debt to these classic comedies.
While it’s true that comedies aren’t in vogue in the way that they once were, there’s a case to be made that their DNA has been adopted by other types of films over the last few years. After all, some of the best gags nowadays tend to come from superhero movies as they do a great job of breaking up the action and ensuring that the audience always has a smile on its face.
Consider the recent appearance of Krypto the Superdog in DC’s Superman, or Herbie the robot in Fantastic Four: The First Steps – these characters use comedy to great effect, so there’s plenty to keep us laughing in the latest big-budget films, but if you are the type of person who prefers a more straight-laced comedy then fear not – there are plenty coming to Cineworld that are worthy of your attention.
Great comedies on the horizon
This Friday, one of Disney’s most enduring comedies is finally getting a long-awaited sequel with the highly anticipated Freakier Friday. The original body swap comedy was a true gem of the early 2000s, largely due to the brilliant casting of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, both of whom are returning for the follow-up.
This time around, the chaos of the body-swapping scenario has only grown with two more unsuspecting participants brought into the mix: Anna Coleman’s (Lohan) daughter Julia, and her soon-to-be stepdaughter Lily. With four bodies and minds now in the mix, the problem has quadrupled as all four of them must navigate this affliction, trying to convincingly portray the person they’ve swapped to, whilst also finding a way back to their own body. It’s bound to be a hilarious film for the whole family to enjoy.
Towards the end of the month (August 29th to be exact), you’re in for a star-studded treat with The Roses, a black comedy adapted from Warren Adler’s critically acclaimed novel, The War of the Roses. The film finally pairs Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman together, but as a married couple who slowly start to realise that they can’t stand each other, and once they recognise that there can only be one true victor from the fallout, all manner of chaos ensues.
As far as we’re concerned, the film is worth watching just for Cumberbatch and Colman alone, but they’re joined by the likes of Adam Samberg, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon and Allison Janney. If you can find a more talented roster than that, do let us know.
With all this in mind, comedy is still very much alive and well, it just requires your support at your nearest Cineworld. As Liam Neeson so brilliantly points out in the PSA, “you’ll get to share a smile, a laugh, and even the occasional groan with the people in your very own community.”
What could be better than that?
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