With its treasure trove of ridiculous gags and a deadpan masterclass from Liam Neeson, The Naked Gun proves to be an inspired reboot of the classic Leslie Nielsen film series. So what was the secret to bringing The Naked Gun‘s inspired stupidity to life?
According to the actors, complete and total seriousness.
“To play each scene seriously, that was certainly a note for myself,” Neeson, who plays Frank Drebin Jr., told Mashable in an interview.
“You have to play it seriously in order to be funny,” added Pamela Anderson, who stars as femme fatale Beth Davenport.
Paul Walter Hauser, who plays Ed Hocken Jr, agreed, highlighting the importance of separating the characters’ comedic circumstances with the actual emotions they’re feeling.
“I try not to think about what is actually being said,” Hauser explained. “And Liam, if you turn it on mute, he does look intense, and it looks like it could be an action film. Then you hear what he’s saying, and you’ll lose your mind laughing.”
Check out the full interview above to hear more from the cast of The Naked Gun, including how Priscilla Presley, star of the original, sent Anderson a note before filming, and how Saturday Night Live legend Phil Hartman influenced Hauser’s performance.
The Naked Gun is now in theaters.
