One aspect ofThe Naked Gunis way better than this other long-awaited legacy sequel. Without a doubt, legacy sequels are very difficult to get right. Oftentimes, it feels like they are far too reliant on the nostalgia of the original movie or series of films. However,The Naked Gunis a perfect legacy sequel.
Liam Neeson takes over for iconic comedian Leslie Nielsen, who starred in the franchise’s previous three films, and his hilarious performance has been a highlight fromreviews forThe Naked Gun. The movie is not only a funny entry in a great series, but it has delivered the laughs to be considered arguably the best comedy of the year.
That’s notable consideringThe Naked Guncame out just one week after another highly anticipated comedy sequel, Adam Sandler’sHappy Gilmore 2. Given their close proximities and long-awaited releases, these two new comedies are ripe for comparison.
UnlikeThe Naked Gun,reviews forHappy Gilmore 2were unfortunately quite mixed. Yet, both movies rely on familiarity and celebrity in similar ways. That makesThe Naked Gunstand out as superior toHappy Gilmore 2in one particular way.
The Naked Gun’s Cameos Are Amazing
Cameos are definitely nothing new toThe Naked Gunfranchise, and it’s amazing to see some notable faces in the most recent entry. Popular figures for sports fans, such as WWE superstar Cody Rhodes and UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, appear in the film. However, the three most notablecameos inThe Naked Gunare “Weird Al” Yankovic, Priscilla Presley, and Dave Bautista.
In the case of Yankovic and Presley, it’s amazing to see them inThe Naked Gunsince they both appeared in the franchise’s previous three movies.Yankovic played himself in the first and thirdNaked Gunmovies, and actually played one of the criminals in the second film.
In the 2025 legacy sequel, Yankovic once again plays himself.The musician, who is best known for his parody songs, is recruited by Richard Cane to perform for the billionaires once they seek shelter in the bunkerafter he essentially destroys modern society. Obviously, Cane’s plan fails at theend ofThe Naked Gun, and Yankovic is featured in the end-credits scene performing for absolutely no one.
Presley’s role in the newNaked Gunmovie is much more minor than Yankovic’s, but just as meaningful. This is becausePresley previously appeared as Jane Spencer, Frank Drebin’s love interest, whom he eventually marries, in the previous three films. Presley was one of the most important characters in the original trilogy, so it was great to see her show up in the new film.
Presley only shows up very briefly inThe Naked Gun. During the movie’s climax, as Frank Drebin Jr. attempts to stop Cane’s P.L.O.T. device at the UFC event, the film cuts to several people watching from their homes. One of these people is Presley. Even though this is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, it proves thatthe newNaked Gunmovie successfully honors the franchise’s past.
Finally,The Naked Gun’sother most notable cameo comes from Bautista. At the end of the film,Bautista appears to help Frank argue against Cane while the Police Squad detective takes a bathroom break. Unlike Yankovic and Presley, Bautista did not appear in the original films. However, his cameo is still hilarious and definitely makes for one of the funniest moments in the movie.
Unlike The Naked Gun, Happy Gilmore 2 Has Way Too Many Cameos
Overall, all the cameos inThe Naked Gunmake for hilarious moments and a few effectively honor the Nielsen era of the franchise. In contrast, it seems likeHappy Gilmore 2was more than willing to recruit literally any notable celebrity to show up in the movie. As a result,Sandler’s most recent comedy film is overflowing with unnecessary cameos.
In total, there are a whopping72 cameos inHappy Gilmore 2. Admittedly, some of the cameos in the sequel work really well. For example,Eminem’s surprise appearance inHappy Gilmore 2is actually very funnyand makes sense since he plays the son of the heckler who drove Happy crazy while he was competing against Shooter McGavin in the first movie.
Additionally,it also makes perfect sense for several professional golfers to show up inHappy Gilmore 2. At the end of the film, golfers Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka join Happy’s team and compete against the Maxi athletes. These inclusions are undoubtedly amazing for die-hard fans of golf.
However, most of the other cameos inHappy Gilmore 2are just distracting. People like Post Malone and Travis Kelce being in the movie is completely unnecessary. Unfortunately, the majority of the cameos inHappy Gilmore 2fall flat.It seems like the creative team was just trying to get as many people as they could in the movie to create some buzz onlineand get people talking.
This strategy definitely worked, but it came at the expense ofHappy Gilmore 2’sstory. Meanwhile,The Naked Gungot people talking by including plenty of hilarious and clever jokes, rather than solely relying on cameos. Therefore, without a doubt,The Naked Gunis the best comedy of the summer, and arguably the funniest movie of the year.
The Naked Gun
Cast
The Naked Gun is a comedy film focused on Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., who utilizes his unique talents to command the Police Squad and prevent global catastrophe. Released in 2025, the film continues the legacy of the original franchise while introducing a new generation to its comedic exploits.
Happy Gilmore 2
Happy Gilmore 2 sees the return of Adam Sandler in his iconic role as the retired golfer who steps back onto the green to support his daughter’s passion for ballet. Released in 2025, the film explores Gilmore’s renewed journey in golf to finance her dreams.
