Laughter abounds in the revamped "The Naked Gun," but disappoints in "Freakier Friday"
In the realm of cinematic comedy, two new releases are causing a stir - the long-awaited sequel "Freakier Friday" and the reboot of the classic "The Naked Gun."
"Freakier Friday," directed by Nisha Ganatra, is the sequel to the 2003 remake of the 1976 comedy "Freaky Friday." The film features a convoluted plot with multiple body swaps, as Lindsay Lohan's character, Anna Coleman, a music manager and single mother, ends up trading bodies with her teenage daughter Harper, while Jamie Lee Curtis' Tess Coleman, now a part-time podcaster, swaps bodies with Sophia Hammons' Lily, Eric's teenage daughter who is engaged to Anna. Lindsay Lohan's performance is poignant, showcasing her sharp-witted presence and comic timing.
Julia Butters, known for her role in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," plays Harper, Anna's strong-willed teenage daughter. Curtis' performance seems to be in an over-the-top mode, reminiscent of "Everything Everywhere All at Once."
On the other hand, "The Naked Gun (2025)" is a reboot of the Leslie Nielsen-starring "Police Squad!" spoofs from the late '80s and '90s. Liam Neeson steps into the shoes of Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., the son of Nielsen's Lt. Frank Drebin Sr. Like his father, Drebin Jr. is a bumbling embarrassment who works for the LAPD's elite Police Squad division.
The film, directed and co-written by Akiva Schaffer, of the comedy trio The Lonely Island, is described as a gloriously dumb, visually energetic update of the 1988 classic police spoof. The plot involves detective Frank Drebin Jr. investigating intertwined cases involving a bank robbery and a tech-bro villain with a mind-control device, conceptually similar to the original's "Manchurian Candidate" theme.
Liam Neeson brings his established action-star gravitas to deadpan buffoonery, though some critics note the comedy lacks the shameless mugging style of the original and sometimes needs exaggerated visual gags to remind the audience it is a goofy comedy.
While detailed reviews are available for "The Naked Gun (2025)," there are no search results providing information or reviews of "Freakier Friday" for comparison. If you're interested, I can help find or summarize info about "Freakier Friday" elsewhere to facilitate that comparison.
Movies-and-TV such as "Freakier Friday" and "The Naked Gun" offer a blend of entertainment, providing comic relief and unique storylines. "Freakier Friday" features a body-swapping twist with Lindsay Lohan and Julia Butters delivering noteworthy performances. "The Naked Gun" reboot, on the other hand, sees Liam Neeson in a humorous role, revisiting the absurdity of the original.
