Greater than 30 years after the “Bare Gun” franchise loved its “Ultimate Insult” in 1994, arguably the world’s most beloved slapstick spoof movie collection is again for an additional slice of straight-faced silliness — and to check the modern field workplace waters of big-screen comedy.
Leslie Nielsen, whose legendary flip as bumbling L.A. detective Frank Drebin nonetheless has followers merrily reciting his most well-known traces, died in 2010. For Paramount’s new reboot “The Bare Gun,” out Aug. 1, Liam Neeson has been recruited to comply with within the Canadian icon’s deadpan footsteps as his equally incompetent (however decidedly much less silver-haired) detective son, Frank Drebin Jr.
Additionally starring Pamela Anderson (enjoying Beth Davenport, a kind of 2025 version of Priscilla Presley’s Jane Spencer) and directed and co-written by The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer, the legacy sequel to the unique three movies is awash in visible gags, absurd one-liners, horrible driving, comically OTT motion scenes, sexual innuendo, no less than one montage that includes an offended snowman and greater than just some very realizing nods to its predecessors.
However whereas there could also be many “Bare Gun” obsessives on the market eager to find if Neeson can come near Nielsen’s standing as “the Laurence Olivier of spoofs” (thanks, Roger Ebert), one one who isn’t significantly fearful is Neeson himself. As he admits, regardless of main the reboot, the final time he truly watched the unique movies was after they had been in cinemas within the Eighties and Nineties. And, as a veteran actor himself, any requests for him to attempt to emulate Nielsen’s basic facial expressions or deadpan monologue type — had they been made — would have fallen on deaf ears.
“I’ve achieved over 100 films, so I don’t must somebody to inform me tips on how to act,” he says.
Regardless of Neeson’s spectacular checklist of credit, “The Bare Gun” — which is movie No. 106 — marks the Irishman’s first comedy. But it surely’s a comedy that would, if it does nicely, open up a complete new avenue for the actor, a dramatic main man since “Schindler’s Checklist” whose later-in-life resurgence as a serious motion star (with a specific set of expertise) is now, he admits, drawing to its pure finish.
As he explains: “I’m 73, for fuck’s sake. I don’t need to be doing that stuff with a Zimmer body.” (that’s a walker, for the People.)
I’d love to listen to how your casting in “Bare Gun” took place. Did they attain out to you? Did you attain out to them? How did you come to be Frank Drebin Jr.?
I’d made a movie with Seth MacFarlane 10 years in the past. And he obtained in contact with me three years, three-and-a-half years in the past to see if I’d have an interest doing this reboot. I had a few apprehensions, however they didn’t final very lengthy.
What had been these apprehensions?
The comedic stuff I’d achieved had been simply TV skits, a few minutes lengthy. However a film – the co-lead in a film for 90 minutes was a little bit of a tall order. However I did know that if push got here to shove and we did it, the script can be no less than be good if Seth was concerned as a result of he’s obtained a depraved humorousness. If it’s on the very least good, I shouldn’t attempt to be humorous. Simply be severe. I knew there’d be plenty of sight gags.
Did Seth say why they’d approached you particularly?
I didn’t ask. Somebody talked about that Ed Helms had been thought of. And I believed that will be good, however a barely totally different film.
Had they seen your TV skits, like in “Life’s Too Brief” and “Derry Ladies,” and figured you’d be good to play it straight in a comedy?
I don’t know. However lots of people appear to have seen the Ricky Gervais sketch. I additionally did a few little issues for Stephen Colbert’s present.
For the reason that movie was first introduced, many individuals I’ve spoken to about it have been fairly shocked that one other “Bare Gun” movie was being made and also you had been enjoying the brand new Frank Drebin. It’s provoked extra of a response than most different movies I discuss. What kind of response did you get whenever you instructed individuals?
Some individuals mentioned, “Oh yeah, I bear in mind these, they had been good, they had been enjoyable movies.” And folks would say, “You’re going to be the Leslie Nielsen character?” and I’d say “Yeah, however Leslie Nielsen Jr./Frank Drebin Jr.” But when the producers had mentioned I need to bleach my hair for the position, there’s no method I might have achieved that.
Bleaching your hair wasn’t even on the playing cards?
No.
I simply questioned if individuals had been shocked. Of all of the roles you’ve had through the years, this appears probably the most on the market. How did the response to saying you had been enjoying Frank Drebin evaluate to different roles?
Properly, it made me take into consideration comedy. I grew up watching Laurel and Hardy on Saturday night time. Plus Charlie Chaplin. I’m an enormous fan of Will Ferrell. I’ve seen a few his movies. However I hadn’t seen the “Bare Gun” movies since I first noticed them within the Eighties and Nineties.
What was your relationship with these authentic “Bare Gun” movies? They’ve clearly iconic and lots of people watch them again and again. However did you simply see them the as soon as?
Yeah, I noticed them after they had been within the cinema. They had been giggle. Enjoyable. Faculty boy humor.
Did you ever watch the “Police Squad” collection that got here earlier than them?
No, I by no means noticed these. Actually not rising up in Eire. To my reminiscence they weren’t screened. “Airplane,” I keep in mind that film. Leslie’s efficiency in that… I feel that line “Don’t name me Shirley” modified his skilled life.
Any hopes — or fears — this may do the identical to your skilled life?
No, I don’t assume so. But it surely was enjoyable to make. It was beautiful to work with Pamela. And Danny Huston, we’ve achieved 4 films collectively and he’s an previous pal. Paul Walter Hauser is ridiculously humorous. Terrific actor.
Liam Neeson performs Frank Drebin Jr. in “The Bare Gun.”
Courtesy of Paramount Footage
What was your strategy to turning into Frank Drebin Jr.? Did you return and research the movies once more?
No.
You didn’t rewatch the movies? Was that on goal? Otherwise you simply didn’t really feel you wanted to?
No, I simply trusted the script. And knew it might get higher the extra they labored on it. Akiva was the co-writer however there was all the time one other author on set — a pal of Akiva’s, clearly — and they’d provide alternate endings to scenes. Do this, attempt that.
Was there any try and emulate Leslie Nielsen or was there a Leslie Nielsen skilled on set? Loads of what he does is within the facial expressions.
No, these kind of notes I wouldn’t have accepted. I’ve achieved over 100 films, so I don’t want somebody to inform me tips on how to act.
However was there something particular you had been instructed about tips on how to play Frank Drebin Jr.? Something written down by way of what he was like and the way he must be?
No. Simply that he’s very severe and really dedicated to being a policeman.
With this position, it’s all about protecting the straightest face attainable whereas chaos is erupting round you and also you’re saying ridiculous traces. Are you simply significantly good at that, or do you’ve got a technique for not breaking down into laughter on set?
No, that didn’t occur. After we rehearsed stuff, we’d eliminate our private giggles. And a number of the scene require sure choreography — sight gags and stuff like that. I don’t need to say it was all the time severe, removed from it. But it surely was severe enterprise, after all, capturing any film and protecting a way of lightness. You realize, that’s essential.
There are a lot of ridiculous scenes on this. Have been there any the place you — maybe you and Pamela — struggled to maintain a straight face?
No. There weren’t. Pamela and I’ve been speaking about it. Clearly we’d rehearse and giggle at some stuff, however after we shot it we did what we needed to do. No, it by no means actually broke down. I can’t bear in mind events like that.
You’ve spoken loads about working with Pamela and there was an interview a couple of months in the past the place you mentioned you had been “in love together with her,” which clearly sparked a couple of headlines. Was that only a throwaway line?
Yeah, it was only a throwaway line. I love her very a lot and simply wished to acknowledge the very fact she’s terrific. No airs and graces, no large ego. She’s there to do the work. She’s only a beautiful human being.
And he or she’s having a little bit of a second proper now.
Yeah, she is. Doing these great unbiased movies.
Pamela Anderson performs Beth Davenport and Liam Neeson performs Frank Drebin Jr. in “The Bare Gun.”
Frank Masi
There was an interview together with her not too long ago through which she mentioned she organized romantic dinners with you throughout the shoot in order that you might keep “professionally romantic.”
We had dinner a few instances. She’s an exquisite baker. She made me sourdough bread. And her assistant made some lovely muffins. Gluten-free muffins. Terrific. She’s very into her gardening again dwelling. However yeah, we had a few meals collectively.
There are a number of intercourse scenes between the 2 of you. I really feel like there’s truly extra intercourse and sexual innuendo on this “Bare Gun” than the earlier movies. Or possibly it simply went over my head as a youngster, however a few of it actually pushes it to the sting.
Yeah, there’s a few outlandish scenes. From day one we simply appeared to have a pleasant chemistry collectively and I trusted that and didn’t need to work on it. Like, there’s one thing occurring right here, it’s good, so simply go away it alone and it’ll develop, you understand?
I’m impressed that you just had been capable of do these scenes, which look so hilarious and insane, and never begin cracking up your self. That looks like an actual artwork type.
Yeah, there have been a few traces I bear in mind because the script developed that I mentioned, “That’s an excessive amount of, that’s method, method an excessive amount of.” However on the finish of the day, I all the time belief Akiva. There have been references in a single scene to some TV present that to me was like historic Arabic. What the fuck am I saying? And he’d be like, “Don’t you understand this present, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ or one thing like that.” However he mentioned they’d achieved a screening and it performs, it will get fun.
I really feel like I haven’t seen a movie as foolish as this for a really very long time. It made me notice how a lot I’ve missed foolish movies. There have been so lots of them within the ’80s and ’90s and it looks like, particularly this present day when the world is so severe and depressing, we may actually do with them.
You mentioned it, we’re dwelling in these awfully regarding instances. All of us want a giggle and people movies epitomized that. So it’s a beautiful, harmless launch. So we’ll see the way it does and the way audiences react to it. Actually, the trailers appeared to work very nicely, particularly with younger audiences too that weren’t introduced up in these movies.
Was {that a} shock? I had the sensation that this is able to be extra for individuals of a sure age who bear in mind the originals.
Yeah, I used to be type of stunned by it. My two sons instructed me they obtained calls from their buddies saying they thought the primary trailer was very cool.
That is your first comedy movie. You turned an motion star later in life with “Taken.” Has that period closed? May this be the brand new daybreak of Liam Neeson, the straight-faced funnyman?
The primary “Taken” was 18 years in the past, I used to be 54. Looks like a lifetime in the past. I nonetheless get supplied the occasional one. However I’m 73, for fuck’s sake. I don’t need to insult audiences in the event that they’re watching complete battle scenes and it’s not me. I simply wouldn’t do it. Up till not too long ago, I preferred doing my very own battle stuff. However I don’t need to be doing that stuff with a Zimmer body or strolling stick. Positive, there is perhaps one other one on the market, however nothing particular on the horizon.
However did this make you assume, maybe comedy may very well be a pleasant, gentler, much less fighter style to maneuver into?
Positive. Yeah. However I’m an enormous believer in writers and the script. That’s the muse stone, it doesn’t matter what the style. Besides horror. I gained’t do horror.
Any purpose why not horror? Plenty of actors are shifting into it lately.
As a child I might have liked it — the early Dracula movies and Frankenstein, all that stuff, the Hammer films, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing. However no, it’s simply my style.
When Leslie Nielsen began working with Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker on their comedies, it got here to outline his picture. Do you assume you might return to severe movies now you’ve achieved “Bare Gun”?
I feel so. I hope so. I suppose it’s all a query mark. Let’s see.
Has there been any dialogue about doing extra “Bare Gun” movies?
No. I feel we’ll wait and see the way it performs.
Now you’ve made “Bare Gun,” are you planning to return and watch the originals?
No plans. If it was on, I’d watch it. However I’ve no plans to revisit it.
Is it only a pleasant coincidence that your title and Leslie Nielsen’s title are very related?
That’s unusual. I’ve been requested that a couple of instances. “Mr. Nielsen?” “Sorry, I don’t know who that’s.”
