Liam Neeson was a perfect cast to lead the reboot of The Naked Gun with enthusiastic concerns. Leslie Nielsen created a beloved Frank Drebin character with slapstick actions and memorable goofy scenes that represent the '80s. Liam Neeson, ironically sharing the same initials, has given rise to the mid-age dad action film genre with Taken in 2008 and seemed to be the perfect front man to follow Nielsen's footsteps. This reboot trailer gave a sneak peek of Neeson's capability to play a straight character while delivering silly dialogues, so I was hopeful to see the full feature.

Well, while watching the film I realized the highlights were condensed in the trailer and the rest of the film felt like fillers. There were several scenes with corny and shallow comic lines feeling forced, and incoherent transitions that made it difficult to follow the story. Neeson is at his best to play the straight character, taking himself seriously. This film would have worked much better if his character showed a grounded straight face while surroundings were testing his patience. But instead, Frank Drebin always seems to play one up to clueless villains.

Perhaps the concept was worthy for a web series or skits (remember the Key and Peele show episode with valet attendants?). Towards the end of the film, I felt the film was segmented and expected the fake laughter tracks.

I wonder what kind of movie it could have been if other directors were in charge. Adam McKay could make a sharper satire movie aiming at our current chaotic world? Jared Hess could portray a genuinely sincere yet odd detective Drebin living in his own world? Just a thought.

Sometimes the right actor in the wrong film is more painful than miscasting entirely. At least then you can dismiss it. Here, you are left imagining what might have been—a waste of potential is always the hardest pill to swallow.