Jerry Zucker, the late Jim Abrahams and David Zucker were the trio of writer-directors who gave us still probably the greatest pastiche film ever with ‘Airplane! (1980). A send up of all those 1970’s Airport disaster movies. It remains one of the best comedies ever made endlessly re-watchable with both verbal and visual jokes filling every frame meaning that a new joke can nearly always be found even after multiple viewings. They followed it with the underrated ‘Top Secret! and then another huge hit with The Naked Gun. Yet the film only ever really happened because the Police Squad! TV series they had written had bombed and taken off before the whole series was transmitted. A big screen version with the late Leslie Nielsen in a career defining role was a huge hit for the time earning $78m on its release in 1988 with two sequels that followed the law of averages being less and less successful. But influenced by all of this was Seth MacFarlane and it was him who more than 35 years later has produced a remake with Liam Neeson as the inept Lieutenant Drebin and Pamela Anderson as the femme fatale Beth Davenport and on release now is The Naked Gun DVD, BLU-RAY & 4K UHD.
Released now on Blu-ray, DVD & 4K UHD it’s something of a career change for Neeson who like his predecessor Leslie Nielsen was a dramatic actor until Taken made him an action hero . But having closed the door on that genre he was persuaded to take on the comedy role following in Nielsen’s footsteps and playing it deadpan straight. For Nielsen it was a double edged sword because it was a role with which he became synonymous but pit an end to ever be able to be taken seriously as a dramatic actor again. Times have changed and its not quite the same today and Neeson does the role as Drebin’s son proud. It’s not the first time he has been in a broad slapstick comedy having appeared in MacFarlane’s cowboy comedy, ‘A Million ways to die in the West’ (2014) but this remake of Naked Gun is better and captures the spirt and style of the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker original with its slapstick and daft jokes. In a modern era where everything is so unrelenting grim and downbeat it’s enjoyably dumb relief. And audiences seemed to agree with the film taking $102m at the box office.
The Naked Gun DVD, blu-ray & 4K UHD is released now for Home Entertainment formats and it can be enjoyed again with a chance to pick up on jokes that might have been missed previously on the big screen. The disc has a load of bonus features that includes:
A Legacy of Laughter—Join the cast and crew as they dive into what keeps the crime hard and the guns naked in this all-new installment of the Naked Gun franchise.
Son of a (Naked) Gun—Only one man has the particular set of skills to lead Police Squad! Find out what makes Liam Neeson the perfect Frank Drebin Jr.
On Set of a Set Within a Set that’s in a Set—Take a look within a look for a look into the reality-bending hospital scene that takes practical effects to a whole new dimension.
The Funny Femme Fatale—Pamela Anderson embodies the perfect femme fatale in her role as Beth Davenport.
The Really Unusual Suspects—Get to know the cast who steal the show by playing it straight.
Dropping the Balls—Explore the production and stunt team behind the ball dropping finale sequence.
Outtakes:
Outtakes Montage—Breaking the law is easy. Playing it straight? Not so much.
WWFC Outtakes—See the quips and digs beyond the punches at the WWFC match in these outtakes.
Deleted, Alternate, and Extended Scenes:
Bank Fight #1 – Extended
Bank Fight #2 – Extended
Noir Opening – Alternate
Last Year’s Incident Joke – Alternate
Cane’s Boardroom – Deleted
Beth Scat – Extended
Frank Sees Wolf – Deleted
Tivo – Alternate
Facade Moment – Extended
Frank and Ed See Balls – Deleted
Skybox – Deleted
Beth Weapons – Extended
Frank Rant in Octagon – Deleted
Frank and Cane Under Arena – Extended
Frank and Ed Under Arena – Deleted
Revenge Kill Speech – Extended
Mock Ads:**
Gorilla Nut—Try this enhanced drink supplement for men.
Muscle Slime—Want to get ripped? All you need is Muscle Slime.
Although all the featurettes are of the EPK variety the deleted, alternate and extended scenes are worth a look. Some are only too obvious why they were deleted whilst several of the alternate takes are as good as those that ended up in the film. The outtakes reel too has a decent Jedi quip from Neeson amongst the rapid montage. Perhaps what the disc does miss is a directors commentary with writer director Akiva Schaffer alongside Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.
But that aside the film is a reminder of what cinema has been sorely missing the past few years and that’s a good laugh out loud comedy.
related feature : The Naked Gun’s OJ Simpson joke…..
related feature : Terry Gilliam discusses the Time Bandits deleted scenes
Here’s them talking about Pamela Anderson….
Here’s The Naked Gun Blu-ray, DVD & 4K UHD trailer….
The Naked Gun – DVD | BLU-RAY | 4K UHD is on releas now
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