Akiva Schaffer’s remake of The Naked Gun hits theaters on August 1st, and the Liam Neeson-led action comedy is already drawing rave reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Neeson stars as the son of Leslie Nielsen’s iconic police detective Frank Drebin in the crime-spoof comedy based on the successful franchise from the late 80s and early 90s.

Neeson is obviously known as one of the great dramatic actors of the last few decades, famous for notable resume standouts like Schindler’s List, Gangs of New York, and A Walk Among the Tombstones. However, in recent years, Neeson has made several memorable comedy appearances, and proven that he has incredible comedic timing and instincts.

The Naked Gun franchise’s absurdist comedy really worked because Leslie Nielsen famously plays his character mostly straight, which is the perfect canvas for the gags and jokes to play off of. Neeson’s ability to blend drama and comedy makes him a perfect fit to revitalize the franchise, and the critics who have seen the movie seem to agree on that point if nothing else.

The Naked Gun Has A 90% Rotten Tomatoes Score – Why It’s So High

The Absurdist Humor Hits All The Right Notes, And Liam Neeson Shines

Screen Rant‘s Zachary Moser summed it up best in his review: “It’s with [Neeson’s] complete commitment that the most eye-rolling puns end up being deliciously funny jokes.” Critics agree that Neeson’s ability to go all-in on every gag, whether it’s physical comedy or a well-timed dated pop culture reference, is what makes The Naked Gun so over-the-top successful.

The rapid-fire jokes and sight gags are almost too much to keep up with, but that’s by design. Schaffer intends for every inch of the movie to be covered in comedy, using only the thinnest narrative possible to move the story forward. The New York Post‘s Johnny Oleksinski labeled it an “ᴀssault of absurdity” in his review, which is as apt a description as can be.

Another positive feature is that the movie is accessible to those who may not already be familiar with The Naked Gun franchise. While there are plenty of nods back to the original movies, the humor is light and simple enough that newcomers will have just as good a time. As Comic Book Resources’ Nicholas Brooks put it:

The Naked Gun isn’t just for longtime fans; it’s for newcomers, comedy fans, and anyone looking to put the phone down and enjoy a genuinely hilarious time at the movies.

Akiva Schaffer and Liam Neeson appear to have hit a home run with The Naked Gun remake, as it is Certified Fresh at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes with 104 critic reviews registered. That’s no misleading number born out of a small sample size, that’s an increasingly rare stone-cold comedy hit.

Source: Comic Book Resources, New York Post, Rotten Tomatoes