Lethal Weapon
LETHAL WEAPON (18)
D: Richard Donner
Warner Bros. (Richard Donner & Joel
Silver)
US 1987
110 mins
Action/Thriller
W: Shane Black
DP: Stephen Goldblatt
Ed: Stuart Baird
Mus: Michael Kamen & Eric Clapton
Mel Gibson (Martin Riggs), Danny Glover (Roger Murtaugh), Gary
Busey (Joshua), Mitchell Ryan (The General), Tom Atkins (Michael Hunsacker), Darlene Love (Trish Murtaugh), Traci Wolfe (Rianne Murtaugh), Jackie Swanson (Amanda Hunsacker)
The mismatched police partner sub-genre has been done to death
now, but the original Lethal Weapon movie remains a good example of how entertaining, action-packed and thrilling they could be.
Mel Gibson made himself both a household name and movie
heartthrob with his portrayal of Martin Riggs, a narcotics detective with suicidal tendencies following the death of his wife, he's partnered with Roger Murtaugh, a seasoned veteran counting down
the days to his retirement. Together they investigate and uncover a drug smuggling cartel with former CIA agents at the helm.
This first film, for the most part, plays it straight, while
the later sequels diluted the action and put more focus on comedy.
8/10
LETHAL WEAPON 2 (18)
D: Richard Donner
Warner Bros. (Richard Donner & Joel
Silver)
US 1989
111 mins
Action/Crime/Comedy
W: Jeffrey Boam [based on a story by Shane Black & Warren
Murphy; characters created by Shane Black]
DP: Stephen Goldblatt
Ed: Stuart Baird
Mus: Michael Kamen & Eric Clapton
Mel Gibson (Martin Riggs), Danny Glover (Roger Murtaugh), Joe
Pesci (Leo Getz), Joss Ackland (Arjen Rudd), Derrick O'Connor (Pieter Vorstedt), Patsy Kensit (Rika van den Haas)
The first sequel to Lethal Weapon puts comedy more in the
driving seat as the mismatched cop duo investigate a money laudering South African diplomat.
The character of Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) is introduced and the
majority of laughs come from his (quite literal) shortcomings.
There's still the odd action scene to get the blood pumping
and overall, it's a pretty decent sequel.
6/10
LETHAL WEAPON 3 (15)
D: Richard Donner
Warner Bros. (Richard Donner & Joel
Silver)
US 1992
118 mins
Action/Crime/Comedy
W: Jeffrey Boam & Robert Mark Kamen [based on
characters created by Shane Black]
DP: Jan de Bont
Ed: Robert Brown & Battle Davis
Mus: Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton & David
Sanborn
Mel Gibson (Martin Riggs), Danny Glover (Roger
Murtaugh), Joe Pesci (Leo Getz), Rene Russo (Lorna Cole), Stuart Wilson (Jack Travis)
The third film of the franchise veers even more
towards comedy as the (not so) mismatched partners investigate an arms dealing syndicate headed by a corrupt cop.
Joe Pesci reprises his role as comic relief Leo Getz
(a real estate agent this time for some peculiar reason), whilst Mel Gibson's character gets a love interest in the shape of Rene Russo.
There's enough action & excitement to entertain,
but it's just not as good as the previous two films.
6/10
LETHAL WEAPON 4 (15)
D: Richard Donner
Warner Bros. (Richard Donner & Joel
Silver)
US 1998
127 mins
Action/Crime/Comedy
W: Channing Gibson [based on characters created by Shane
Black]
DP: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Ed: Frank J. Urioste
Mus: Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton & David
Sanborn
Mel Gibson (Martin Riggs), Danny Glover (Roger Murtaugh), Joe
Pesci (Leo Getz), Rene Russo (Lorna Cole), Chris Rock (Lee Butters), Jet Li (Wah Sing Ku)
With the basic mismatched cops formula all but gone, what's
left is a clichéd action thriller in which Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs picks on the little guy (Joe Pesci) a lot, whilst Danny Glover's Roger Murtaugh isn't happy with his daughter's new choice of
boyfriend (sarcastic cop Chris Rock).
The detectives still have time to piss off a gang of triads,
although it's hardly surprising due to some of the casual racism, as well as reckless endangerment. You'd really expect better from two officers of the law, but since this is a 'comedy', let's
turn a blind eye to that.
Thankfully, the final part of a franchise which ran out of
steam with the third film.
4/10
