The action star plays deadpan detective Frank Drebin Jr. in director Akiva Schaffer’s welcome sequel to the police-parody film franchise that began in 1988.

Once again, a police procedural serves as the movie’s framework, complete with shadow-forming Venetian blinds and hardboiled monologuing. This time, though, thanks to Nielsen’s flinty presence (and all those “Taken” thrillers),

Long-time screenwriting partners Dan Gregor and Doug Mand both grew up spoof freaks, so yes, as they tell IndieWire, there's a lot riding on their reboot. But they've got the jokes and gags — Pamela Anderson scatting,