Lethal Weapon Reviews

Pretty far fetched story where the cops break a ton of rules to get the bad guys. But it has a lot of action and it's directed well by Donner.

I feel I have waited too long already to check this series out. I know I've seen scenes from the series, but I couldn't tell you from which movies they were. It's a Richard Donner movie. He has made some pretty great flicks as well as some just decent watches. I can't say I've disliked anything from him yet. Shane Black also never disappoints with his writing. I was beginning to wonder why they started it with Christmas music. Oh that's a nice view to start with. Well screw you too movie! That is an awkward time to wish someone a happy birthday! Okay it is kind of amusing that the first 3 characters are all in some way naked. Did they really just knock as they walked in? Lol I feel like that scene was unscripted. Yeah he is definitely loony. I feel the music kind of took away from the scene. How did he not notice that was there? Wow those girls were not bright at all. Oh yes that isn't awkward at all. Okay that was pretty cool, but it's also highly unlikely. Kids are messed up I swear. Lol that kid has to be pretty dumb. He is kind of contradicting himself there. Well I knew that was going to happen. A bit overkill on that meeting don't you think? That doesn't look like something survivable. Why do people say everything is going to be alright while they are in the middle of a freaking firefight. Okay that guy was just chilling and then turned around like he knew it would be the heroes and not his fellow bad guys. Isn't there a better way to break into a house? Okay the last fight was pretty good. Honestly though I don't see what all the fuss is about. It has good action moments and some well known one liners. To me though I noticed a lot of errors throughout with continuity and goofs. Even the acting was a bit off at times. I still found it to be a decent watch. It's just not great in my opinion.

It has been a while since I saw this flick and I thought it was time for a re-watch this time with Nick, my step-son. The first thing that really stroke me was the opening scene. Indeed, you have this chick completely drugged out, half naked, jumping from a building and compared to the action movies we see nowadays where blood and nudity is toned down to get a wider rating, I thought it was rather bleak. It was actually quite common back in those days but it was quite obvious that this genre has really evolved since then. My wife was not so pleased and gave me one of those looks ‘how dare you show this depraved garbage to my precious little son?!?’ but, well, the rest of the movie was actually rather harmless. Anyway, I thought it was definitely an entertaining action flick, even though the plot was nothing really original in my opinion. What made this movie better than the rest was the really solid directing by Richard Donner who provided some pretty cool action scenes and the great chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Personally, I never believed in the fact that Gibson was mad or depressed and even though the story was really fun and entertaining, it still is and remains a rather shallow story and I never thought there were really something urgent at stake like in ‘Die Hard’ for example. Still, it is absolutely one of the better action movies ever made, it is completely entertaining from the beginning until the end and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

"Everybody thinks I'm suicidal, in which case, I'm fucked and nobody wants to work with me; or they think I'm faking to draw a psycho pension, in which case, I'm fucked and nobody wants to work with me. Basically, I'm fucked."

Die Hard consistently ranks highly on lists of favourite "alternative" Christmas films (and Christmas movies in general), but it's not the only Yuletide-themed action movie that deserves your attention. Directed by Richard Donner (Superman: The Movie, The Omen) and released in 1987, Lethal Weapon is a bona fide '80s action gem, a skilfully mounted buddy cop action-adventure laced with razor-sharp dialogue, memorable characters and entertaining bursts of R-rated action. Lethal Weapon may not have invented or revolutionised the buddy cop or action-comedy genres, but it refined both of them - it shows that execution is more important, and well-worn genre formulas can still work in the right hands. Moreover, on top of being a remarkable late '80s action picture, the film introduces a pair of memorable central characters.

A veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) begins eying retirement as he draws closer to celebrating his 50th birthday. When a sexy model is found dead after an apparent suicide from jumping off her apartment balcony, Murtaugh is pulled into the case and partnered with loose canon Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) to investigate. Owing to the untimely death of his wife, Riggs is a suicidal hothead; half the police force thinks Riggs is crazy, while the other half believes he's trying to earn a psycho pension. Developing a hesitant friendship, the two find themselves tracking a pair of dangerous drug smugglers, and the "suicide" turns out to be a murder case that's far more complicated than initially imagined.

Donner and screenwriter Shane Black (The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight) clearly know their audience, as Lethal Weapon caters to the action crowd in a tremendously satisfying fashion. In the very first scene, the film provides a smattering of drugs, boobs and violence. It's one hell of a way to set the tone, and the rest of the picture easily lives up to this promise. Undoubtedly, the film works as well as it does thanks in large part to Black's screenplay. Black's contributions are often overlooked since the production is practically faultless from top to bottom, but the excellence of this script cannot be overstated. The dialogue is consistently engaging and witty, and Black mixes the humour and action with tender character development and moments of pathos. It also indulges in the writer's love of Christmas, which is evident in many of his films. While the still-good but inferior Lethal Weapon sequels primarily rely on set-pieces and are driven by their respective cop cases, this first instalment is driven by the personal journeys of these characters, affording depth and humanity to what could've just been an enjoyable but forgettable distraction. It goes without saying that the narrative is standard-order, but the execution is remarkable, and that's what truly matters.

Fortunately, for all of its character dramatics, Lethal Weapon does not skimp on the pyrotechnics. Ever the blockbuster veteran, Donner orchestrates a string of magnificent action set-pieces and conflicts scattered throughout the narrative, embracing the possibilities of the picture's R rating. Action was arguably at its pinnacle during the 1980s, and Lethal Weapon is a solid reinforcement of this opinion, with its fluid camerawork and crisp editing easily surpassing many of today's big-budget pretenders. However, the film does have its dumb moments. In the final sequence, for example, Riggs decides not to simply arrest the bad guy but have a punch-up with him instead while dozens of police officers stand around watching. It's an entertaining fight, to be sure, but the foundation is a bit shaky, and it feels like the only time in the film that action is being forced. For the record, the extended director's cut is this reviewer's preferred version. Some may find it too long, but the additional scenes deserve a place in the picture, providing extra action, a few extra laughs, and added character depth.

While Lethal Weapon is vehemently a buddy movie, it's very much Mel Gibson's party. Back in 1987, Mel was a rising star adored by the industry and by audiences, and it's easy to see why: he's a fantastic actor. Martin Riggs's introductory scene alone features some of the finest moments in Gibson's career. The star's intensity is extraordinary, and he balances depression with superb comic timing and edgy energy. His emotional outbursts are unexpectedly powerful, as well. One pivotal scene depicts Riggs contemplating suicide, sobbing as he sticks a gun into his mouth before realising that he can't do it. Gibson's acting in this scene is riveting, showing how much this guy genuinely deserves an Oscar for his acting skills. Likewise, Glover could have turned Roger Murtaugh into a one-note bore, but the actor creates a complex, devoted family man, and he matches Gibson step-for-step. The chemistry between Glover and Gibson is absolutely killer - it's hard to think of any male/female relationships in romantic comedies that click as brilliantly as these two. Watching Glover and Gibson trade witty banter is an absolute pleasure. Lethal Weapon also benefits from including Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua, the main villain's henchman. Busey is a fine actor who's as entertaining on the screen as he is off-camera, and he makes for a top-notch bad guy.

Like most action franchises, the Lethal Weapon series is somewhat tarnished by its sequels. Although the sequels are entertaining enough, four movies is pushing it. As the series progressed, things became more action-oriented, and the tone veered more into the comedic realm. On the other hand, this first film nails the mix of action and comedy, with Donner shifting between the two tonal extremes with utmost dexterity. The film is a godsend for action fans, but more casual movie fans will also find a lot to like due to how thoroughly enjoyable it is. And I don't know about you, but I'll always be watching this one come Christmas Eve.

9.2/10

I haven't seen a lot of Buddy Cop movies, but so far this is the best one. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover star as two very different cops who become partners. I know it may sound cliched, but it's actually really great. Richard Donner directs, and he does one hell of a job too. Lots of action, you definitely won't get bored during this movie. I usually don't like Mel Gibson, but I actually liked him in this film. Him and Mr. Glover make one of the best movie duos in history. So go ahead, watch it. I guarantee that you WON'T get too old for this shit. 9.2