The Naked Gunreboot’sdirector and co-writer, Akiva Schaffer, has addressed the film’s “polarizing” montage involving a snowman in a recent interview. The action comedy legacy sequel, which stars Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., has received generally positive reviews since its release on Aug. 1, withThe Naked Gunearning a particularly high Rotten Tomatoes scoreof 89%.
WithThe Naked Gun’scountless Easter eggs and references, it has been branded a brilliantly funny reboot, with Neeson showcasing his lesser-known comedic side. However, that is not to say thatThe Naked Gundidn’t experience some problems in development,as its director recalls the initial response to a certain scene involving a snowman causing a stir.
The scene in question occurs during a montage mid-way throughThe Naked Gun, where Frank and Beth (Pamela Anderson) have a romantic getaway in a winter cabin.After using a book of spells to bring a specially-made snowman to life, it shockingly joins them in an intimate scene. However, the snowman’s jealousy quickly turns the moment into a horror film.
In an interview, perIndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkitpodcast,Schaffer discussed howThe Naked Gun’ssnowman scene was “polarizing in script-reads,” as not everyone understood it. Furthermore, Schaffer stated that Andy Samberg heavily supported its inclusion, but the director “did have to threaten to quit” to keep it in the film. Check out Schaffer’s full statement below:
It was polarizing in script-reads. People I really respect, like Andy Samberg, when he read it for me, he was like, “Snowman’s the best. Do not let them cut it,” knowing it would be cuttable. It makes sense once you see the movie, but at one point I did have to threaten to quit.
According to Schaffer, “After the first test screen, it was the number one scene in the movie.“The Naked Gundirector also addressed his fear of doing “fanfiction” of the original movie, which also features a montage, stating that other reboots “are so stuck on re-doing the stuff that the original did,” and he wanted it to be different.
What The Snowman Scene Means For The Naked Gun
Akiva Schaffer’s comments showcase thatthere was a deeper philosophy drivingThe Naked Gun’sreboot, which wasa commitment to the original’s comedy without being a nostalgic “paint by numbers Mad Libs” of the original. According to reviews, Schaffer and co-writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand were successful in creating new, boundary-pushing content to avoid a simple rehash.
The snowman scene initially caused reservations among people who were likely somewhat “stuck on re-doing the stuff that the original did” as a safe option, following reboot trends. However, the scene has becomethe film’s most beloved and talked-about sequence, showing thatThe Naked Gun’shumor needed to evolve, and thattest screenings can strongly advocate for risky creative decisions.
Our Take On The Snowman Scene
I think the snowman scene is one ofThe Naked Gun’sfunniest moments, andit hilariously reminded me of the 1997 black comedy slasher version ofJack Frost. Interestingly, Schaffer said, “I’ve seen the trailer to Jack Frost and I am aware it exists,” stating viaVarietythat the resemblance to the costumed killer snowman is “not an accident.”
I am glad that Schaffer fought to keep the snowman scene inThe Naked Gun, as the sequence certainly rewarded the risk in creating an absolutely absurd moment, which was befitting ofThe Naked Gun’sstrange comedy. As a result, the director and co-writer’s steadfast defense created one of the most memorable Liam Neeson movie moments in recent years.
