THE NAKED GUN : Tuesday 26th August 2025.

I saw the M Rated 'THE NAKED GUN' this week at my local independent movie theatre and this American action comedy film is Co-Written and Directed by Akiva Schaffer whose previous feature film Directorial credits include his debut in 2007 with 'Hot Rod', then 'The Watch' in 2012, 'Popstar : Never Stop Never Stopping' in 2016 and 'Chip 'n Dale : Rescue Rangers' in 2022. This film serves as a legacy sequel to 1994's 'Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult' and is the fourth instalment in 'The Naked Gun' franchise, with those first three films in the series grossing a combined US$477M at the global Box Office. This film was released Stateside on 1st August, here in Australia last week, has so far grossed US$89M off the back of a US$42M production budget and has generated positive critical acclaim. 

Lieutenant Frank Drebin Jnr. (Liam Neeson) of the LAPD Police Squad singlehandedly thwarts a bank robbery disguised as a young schoolgirl. Unknown to him at the time, this was a distraction to steal a gadget from a safe deposit box held in the banks vault called the 'P.L.O.T. Device' (Primordial Law Of Toughness).  Police Chief Davis (CCH Pounder) reassigns Drebin to traffic patrol when his over-the-top law enforcement becomes a legal liability. While paying tribute to his father Frank Drebin Sr., he prays to him to send him an owl as a sign of his approval.

Drebin, and his Captain Ed Hocken Jnr. (Paul Walter Hauser) investigate software engineer Simon Davenport's (Jason MacDonald) fatal car crash, deeming it suicide, but Drebin notices a matchbook at the scene. Simon's sister Beth (Pamela Anderson), a crime writer, argues against his claim, but Drebin dissuades her from investigating further. 

Drebin finds Richard Cane (Danny Huston), Simon's wealthy employer at Edentech, at the company's tech expo. After they both heap seemingly never ending praise on the Black Eyed Peas, Cane donates a self-driving electric car to Police Squad, which causes havoc with Drebin behind the wheel, and also recommends his personal nightclub. Drebin notices the matchbook found at Simon's crash site has the same logo as the nightclub.

Cane privately demonstrates how he will use the stolen P.L.O.T. Device to turn human against human and return them to their barbarian nature, culling the population save for his fellow billionaires, who will be insulated from harm inside his personal bunker which will be equipped with all the comforts of home, and then some. Drebin, interrogates one of the bank robbers, and learns about the deposit box, which was Simon's, connecting the two cases. At Cane's club, Beth distracts Cane with improvised, atrocious scat singing while Drebin fights many of Cane's henchmen in order to gain access to security footage, which reveals that Simon met discreetly with a journalist. Davis suspends Drebin for insubordination. Beth stays with the demoralised Drebin, and he considers finally moving on from memories of his late wife. Drebin and Beth spend a romantic weekend at an alpine lodge where they spend time frolicking in the snow, and building a life size snowman. They find a book of magical and mysterious incantations on a bookshelf and recite one, bringing their snowman to life, which at first is friendly enough but then turns murderous after they neglect it. They manage to decapitate the snowman, tossing its head into the hot tub, where is quickly melts away. 

Drebin visits the home of the journalist to find him murdered, and is easily tricked into incriminating himself. He flees in the electric car, but Cane overrides the controls and attempts to kill Drebin just as he did Simon. Drebin shoots out the windshield, but is trapped again by the car driving head-on into balloons, a swarm of bees, and a replacement windshield. Purely by accident, he activates Clippy, who helpfully unlocks the doors, allowing Drebin to jump free of the car before it drives headlong into the harbour. Meanwhile, Police Squad has been decommissioned. Beth reveals that Simon feared the misuse of the P.L.O.T. Device, but Drebin suspects that Beth is using him and angrily leaves her home.

Drebin captures Cane's henchman Gustafson (Kevin Durand) and frightens him into confessing to Cane's plan to activate the P.L.O.T. Device at the New Year's ball drop at a MMA match. Drebin heads to the match at the 'Ponzi-scheme.com Arena', equipped with an earpiece that blocks the wearer from the P.L.O.T. Device's frequency. Beth plans to kill Cane, but he sees this coming as recorded in her book. Drebin finds the P.L.O.T. Device inside the New Year's balls. As the balls drop, he snags his trouser leg on the winch at which he loses his pants as the balls drop, indecently exposing himself to the entire TV audience, and those watching live inside the arena, leading them to not respect his order to evacuate. The P.L.O.T. Device activates, and mindless violence erupts throughout the city. Drebin fights through innocents by ricocheting ejected handgun magazines, but cannot catch up with Cane and his associates who have all fled the scene on motorcycles. 

His father's spirit arrives as an owl, airlifting Drebin now in hot pursuit. Hanging on to one leg of the owl, he tells it to take a dump on Cane, which blinds Cane across his visor with bird crap, causing him to crash his motorbike. Cane and Drebin face off, with Cane doubling up in agony after just one punch to the gut. Beth nearly shoots Cane in revenge, but Drebin talks her down. Drebin and Beth use the P.L.O.T. Device to calm the crowd and embrace lovingly as Cane is arrested. In the aftermath, Davis announces to a gathered crowd of the media that Police Squad has been reinstated, although Drebin faces 'investigation' by 'Internal Affairs' – which is actually the name of a tropical resort, where he spends his time with Beth.

'The Naked Gun' for me had a small number of laugh out loud moments, and the rest of this legacy sequel just left me feeling, well 'meh'! Liam Neeson does a respectable job of following in the footsteps of Leslie Nielsen, and brings his comedic A-game to the role playing it straight-laced while delivering some humorous verbal touches and sight gags. For those of us (and I include myself here) old enough to remember the first film in the franchise which opened in 1988 this film represents a fair nod to that classic of 37 years ago now in all its slapstick, quick witted, non-sensical tongue planted firmly in cheek humour that made the original movie so appealing. But for audiences not familiar with those first three films, I can see that this style of Police procedural parody might fail to launch, especially in this era of political correctness . . . or perhaps not! This is an old-school, silly screwball spoof crime caper comedy that has its moments, but for the most part left me wondering why I paid the price of cinema entry when I could have waited a few short weeks to see at home on my chosen streaming platform - if I was so inclined.

'The Naked Gun' merits two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 21st August 2025

The 82nd annual Venice International Film Festival will be held this year from 27th August to 6th September at Venice Lido in Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the 'Big Five' International film festivals worldwide, which include the Big Three European Film Festivals (Venice, Cannes and Berlin), alongside the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the Sundance Film Festival in the USA. Founded in August 1932 the festival is part of the Venice Biennale, one of the world's oldest exhibitions of art, created by the Venice City Council on 19 April 1893. The range of work at the Venice Biennale now covers Italian and international art, architecture, dance, music, theatre, and cinema. During the festival, Venice hosts many events and parties, interviews and meetings with filmmakers and Actors every night, venues open all night, and parties are held in beautiful casino palaces and gardens.

This year the festival will open with the World Premiere screening of the drama film of a love story 'La grazia' from Italy, and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, and is in official competition for the Golden Lion. The festival closes with the Sci-Fi crime thriller 'Dog 51' from France and is Co-Written and Directed by Cedric Jimenez. 

American filmmaker Alexander Payne will serve as Jury President for the main competition for the Golden Lion, of which there are twenty-one films in contention. Among those films are the following :-

* 'Bugonia' - from Ireland, South Korea and the USA and this Sci-Fi black comedy is Co-Produced and Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and stars Jesse Plemmons, Emma Stone and Alicia Silverstone and focuses on two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. World Premiere.

* 'Father Mother Sister Brother' from the USA, Ireland, France, Italy and Japan this comedy drama is Written and Directed by Jim Jarmusch and stars Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Adam Driver, Charlotte Rampling and Tom Waits. Estranged siblings reunite after years apart, forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents. World Premiere.

* 'Frankenstein' - from the USA and this Gothic Sci-Fi film is Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Charles Dance, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Ineson and Burn Gorman. A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. World Premiere.

* 'A House of Dynamite' - from the USA and this political thriller is Co-Produced and Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and stars Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriele Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Moses Ingram, Anthony Ramos, Greta Lee and Jason Clarke. A group of White House officials scramble to deal with an incoming missile attack on the USA. World Premiere.

* 'Jay Kelly' - from the UK and the USA this coming of age comedy drama is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Noah Baumbach and stars George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Stacy Keach, Riley Keough, Emily Mortimer, Patrick Wilson, Jim Broadbent, Lenny Henry, Greta Gerwig, Isla Fisher and Alba Rohrwacher. The film follows a friendship between a famous actor and his manager as they travel through Europe and reflect on their life choices, relationships, and legacies. World Premiere.

* 'No Other Choice' - from South Korea and this black comedy thriller film is Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Park Chan-wook. It follows a man who engages in a desperate hunt for new employment after being fired from a position he has held for 25 years. World Premiere.

* 'The Smashing Machine' - from the USA, Canada and Japan and this biographical sports drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Benny Safdie and stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt and Ryan Bader. The film tells the story of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion Mark Kerr. World Premiere.

* 'The Stranger' - from France and this drama film is Written for the screen and Directed by Francois Ozon and stars Benjamin Voisin. Set in 1930's Algeria, an apathetic Frenchman shows total indifference to life. His emotional detachment leads to a murder, followed by a trial that scrutinises both the crime and his character. World Premiere.

* 'The Testament of Ann Lee' - from the UK and this historical drama musical film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mona Fastvold and starring Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, Stacy Martin and Matthew Beard. Ann Lee, the founding leader of the Shaker Movement, and proclaimed as the female Christ by her followers, depicts her establishment of a utopian society and the Shakers' worship through song and dance. Based on real events. World Premiere.

* 'The Wizard of the Kremlin' - from France, the UK and the USA and this political thriller is Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Olivier Assayas and stars Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Zach Galifianakis, Tom Sturridge and Jeffrey Wright. It follows the fictional character of Vadim Baranov during the final years of the Soviet Union and the turbulent start of the Russian Federation, while a young Vladimir Putin rises into power. World Premiere.

For the full run down of all feature films in the Official Competition for the Golden Lion, plus all the details of the other films in competition, those out of competition and the other film strands being showcased, together with a whole lot of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2025

Turning to this weeks seven hottest new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon close to your home, we launch with a black comedy neo-Western film about the political and social turmoil caused by the contested mayoral election fought between the Sheriff and the Mayor of this small town in New Mexico. Then we turn to a story about a secretive 'fixer' who brokers payoffs on behalf of corrupt corporations, and a potential client who may need his protection. Next up we have an Australian action horror offering set at the height of the Vietnam War in which a recon unit is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon, but they soon discover they are not alone, and must face the most terrifying creatures to ever walk the Earth. This is followed up with an American action comedy film in which only one man has the particular set of skills - to lead Police Squad and save the world. Following on we have a film based on a true story about a Polish woman conscripted to serve as housekeeper to a Nazi officer in Warsaw after it fell to the Nazis, and how she helped shelter a dozen Jews. Next we turn to an Australian drama comedy about a struggling Hollywood actress who returns home to Kangaroo Island, confronting the love triangle that tore her family apart; before closing out the week with an American dark comedy in which a female private investigator probes a number of strange deaths linked it seems to a religious cult. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'EDDINGTON' (Rated M15+) - this American neo-Western black comedy film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ari Aster whose prior feature film making credits are his 2018 debut with 'Hereditary', then 'Midsomer' in 2019 and 'Beau is Afraid' in 2023. This film had its World Premiere showcasing at the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May this year and was released in the US in mid-July. It received generally positive reviews from critics, and has so far grossed US$12M worldwide against a budget of US$25M.

In May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayoral candidate Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) who is running for re-election, sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico. Also starring Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O'Connell and Michael Ward.

'RELAY' (Rated M) - is an American thriller film Co-Produced and Directed by David Mackenzie who made his Directorial debut in 2002 with 'The Last Great Wilderness' which he would follow up with other titles including 'Young Adam' in 2003, 'Hallam Foe' in 2007, 'Perfect Sense' in 2011, 'Starred Up' in 2013, 'Hell or High Water' in 2016 and 'Outlaw King' in 2018. Here, a world class 'fixer' Tom (Riz Ahmed) specialises in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from potential client Sarah Grant (Lily James), needing his protection just to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change. Also starring Sam Worthington and Victor Garber. The film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September last year and is released here in Australia and the US this week, having garnered generally positive critical feedback.

'PRIMITIVE WAR' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian wartime action horror film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Luke Sparke who made his feature film Directing debut with 'Red Billabong' in 2016 and would follow this up with 'Occupation' in 2018, 'Occupation : Rainfall' in 2020, 'Devil Beneath' in 2023, 'Bring Him to Me' also in 2023 and 'Scurry' in 2024. Here then, set in 1968 Vietnam, a recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone, and instead of enemy soldiers they face prehistoric dinosaurs. Starring Tricia Helfer, Ryan Kwanten, Jeremy Piven, Ana Thu Nguyen and Nick Wechsler.

'THE NAKED GUN' (Rated M) - is an American action comedy film Co-Written and Directed by Akiva Schaffer whose previous feature film Directorial credits include his debut in 2007 with 'Hot Rod', then 'The Watch' in 2012, 'Popstar : Never Stop Never Stopping' in 2016 and 'Chip 'n Dale : Rescue Rangers' in 2022. This film serves as a legacy sequel to 1994's 'Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult' and is the fourth instalment in 'The Naked Gun' franchise, with those first three films in the series grossing a combined US$477M at the global Box Office. Here, following in the footsteps of his bumbling father, Detective Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) must solve a murder case to prevent the police department from shutting down. Also starring Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand and Danny Huston. The film was released Stateside on 1st August, has so far grossed US$74M off the back of a US$42M production budget and has generated positive critical acclaim.

'IRENA'S VOW' (Rated MA15+) - this Canadian and Polish Co-Production is Directed by Louise Archambault, whose prior feature film making credits take in her 2005 debut with 'Familia', then 'Gabrielle' in 2013, 'And the Birds Rained Down' and 'Thanks for Everything' both in 2019 and 'One Summer' in 2023. The screenplay for this film was written by Dan Gordon who also wrote the Broadway play of the same name. Here, Irena Gut Opdyke (Sophie Nelisse), a Polish nurse helps shelter and protect a dozen Jewish people during the Holocaust by hiding them in the cellar of the home where she was employed as a housekeeper by Nazi German officer Eduard Rugemer (Dougray Scott). The film premiered in the Centrepiece programme in September 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was released in Canada in mid-April 2024. It has so far grossed US$1.2M at the Box Office and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'KANGAROO ISLAND' (Rated M) - is an Australian drama comedy film Co-Produced and Directed by Timothy David in his feature film debut. Estranged daughter Lou (Rebecca Breeds), an actress whose career has not taken off in Hollywood, returns to her hometown on Kangaroo Island, upon request by her father (Erik Thomson). Lou and her sister Freya (Adelaide Clemens), who is religious, have a complicated past relationship. They try to repair their differences and make peace for the sake of their father, but another family secret is revealed. The films name derives from Kangaroo Island in South Australia, where it was filmed. It saw its World Premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival in early November last year, and has generated largely positive critical reviews.

'HONEY DON'T!' (Rated MA15+) - this American neo-noir dark comedy detective film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ethan Coen, one half of the highly acclaimed, multi-award winning Coen Brothers combo that he shares with his brother Joel. The pair made their Directorial debut with 1984's 'Blood Simple' and would follow this up with other notable titles including 'Raising Arizona' in 1987, 'Miller's Crossing' in 1990, 'Barton Fink' in 1991, 'Fargo' in 1996, 'The Big Lebowski' in 1998, 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' in 2000, 'No Country For Old Men' in 2007, 'Burn After Reading' in 2008, 'True Grit' in 2010 and 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' in 2018. His first solo feature film came in 2024 with 'Drive-Away Dolls', and this film is intended to be the second in a three parter. Here, in Bakersfield, California, female small town private detective Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) investigates a woman's death and tangles with a religious cult, led by the Reverend Drew Devlin (Chris Evans). Also starring Aubrey Plaza and Charlie Day, the film is released this week too in the USA having seen its World Premiere screening at this years Cannes Film Festival in late May. 

With seven new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-