The Bare Gun’s Akiva Schaffer has revealed that one particular joke involving TiVo and Buffy the Vampire Slayer practically didn’t make the ultimate minimize after a “polarizing” viewers response. The action-comedy legacy sequel, starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., has earned a powerful 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, drawing reward for its sharp mix of nostalgia and trendy spoof humor.
With its rapid-fire gags, visible puns, and meta-humor, The Bare Gun has been extensively praised as a worthy trendy successor to Leslie Nielsen’s beloved unique trilogy, with Liam Neeson’s comedic efficiency being a stunning standout. Consequently, The Bare Gun has reached over $30 million on the home field workplace, with the second-best opening weekend for the franchise.
Now, in an interview with SlashFilm, Akiva Schaffer has revealed that many individuals wished to chop the Buffy the Vampire Slayer joke from The Bare Gun. Schaffer states, “it was at all times polarizing” and it divided take a look at audiences, however he truly saved it in for “self-indulgent” causes, saying “it’s the one joke that also makes me chortle” after hours of enhancing.
In truth, even Neeson himself wasn’t positive of the scene the place Frank Debrin Jr. finds out his Buffy recordings have been wiped from his TiVo. Speaking about Neeson’s response, Schaffer mentioned he’s conscious that “it solely performs for half the viewers,” however he couldn’t convey himself to chop his “favourite joke” from the movie. Take a look at his quote beneath:
Nicely, it is so humorous ‘trigger in a few of these interviews, I speak so much about momentum and the way the film simply needed to transfer and the way if a joke did not work, I’d at all times minimize it. Even issues that went additional, like typically we might minimize the final beat off if it climaxed at one half. Then when it will get to the ‘Buffy’ joke, it is indefensible. That is simply me.
I feel even for individuals who do not find it irresistible, in the event that they watched the film one other time or two extra occasions now figuring out it, I feel it should turn out to be their favourite joke. That is how a lot I consider in it.
What This Means For The Bare Gun
The scene in query occurs when Frank Drebin Jr. visits Beth’s house after a day of mishaps, solely to find his previous TiVo (which was loaded with Buffy the Vampire Slayer recordings) has been linked to the web, wiping the expired episodes from the gadget. Liam Neeson’s following rant in The Bare Gun is extraordinarily humorous as his frustration peaks.
The TiVo gag works on a number of ranges, giving a nostalgic nod to early DVR frustrations, a tribute to Buffy tradition, and a approach to inject a second of absurd pause into the continuous motion. Furthermore, the scene highlights how The Bare Gun’s humor has developed with the occasions, together with trendy references to Intercourse and the Metropolis and Microsoft Workplace’s Clippy.
Our Take On The Bare Gun’s Buffy Joke
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer joke in The Bare Gun is understandably “polarizing,” as Schaffer factors out, as it depends upon the age of the viewer and information of Buffy tradition. Nonetheless, not each joke is predicted to land, and the movie totally acknowledges this by instilling varied humorous moments in The Bare Gun which roll into one another.
It’s additionally not the one “polarizing” second, as Schaffer was additionally pushed to chop The Bare Gun’s hilarious snowman scene. But, the movie is ideal the best way it’s, as The Bare Gun reboot doesn’t simply replicate Leslie Nielsen‑model absurdity, it provides its personal twist, and Akiva Schaffer has made positive there’s a joke for everybody, even Buffy followers.
The Bare Gun
8/10
- Launch Date
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August 1, 2025
- Runtime
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85 minutes
- Director
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Akiva Schaffer
- Writers
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Akiva Schaffer, Doug Mand, Dan Gregor, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
- Producers
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Erica Huggins