Lethal Weapon Review

 

        In the 80s, there were loads of great action films. Such as but not limited to Aliens, Commando, and They Live to name a few. This is the third Richard Donner film that I have seen other than Superman: The Movie and Scrooged. I know that he directed other acclaimed ones like The Goonies but I can attest that he is like the Steven Spielberg of action films. Lethal Weapon as far as I know may have started the sub-genre buddy films. It laid the foundation of how to do it perfectly. Only 21 Jump Street can be seen as a generational successor to the buddy cop films. SPOILERS will appear in the film. 

1. Story

        Right from the start it’s a Christmas film. “Jingle Bell Rock” plays which already tells us that the film takes place during the holiday season. Anyway, a woman jumps from a high-rise hotel. An old police officer Roger Murtaugh played by Danny Glover, investigates about the crime scene but realizes that the woman is related to a veteran friend. Meanwhile, we see Martin Riggs played by Mel Gibson, be a narc to some coke dealers. He manages to end the operation but there’s a mean streak about him. 

        In the police department, Murtaugh is given a new partner Riggs and they have a difficult time to adjust to each other’s style. As they continue to run in to criminals associated with the deceased, Riggs realizes that a member from his military past is the one pulling the strings in the drug racketeering. The overall film isn’t really about the investigation of the women’s death, but more so on how Murtaugh and Riggs figure out and stop the drug lords from bringing their brand of cocaine.  

2. Murtaugh and Riggs

        These two make the film. From the beginning, we get to see how exactly and literally different they are. We get to see that Murtaugh has a big family. It was kind of weird that they sing happy birthday to him while he is relaxing in the bathtub. On the beach front, we see Riggs be almost suicidal. The film and himself explain that he is crazy. We see why since he misses his deceased wife and tries to kill himself.

        I think the shot that symbolizes their personal lives is when Roger invites Martin to have dinner. While Murtaugh and his wife are in the kitchen, Martin doesn’t step in and sees the family with their kids. It’s a brief moment, but it just highlights that their personal lives are so different from each other. I feel that the main reason why Riggs is so crazy is that it’s a way to deal with his wife’s passing. 

        Riggs and Murtaugh are the quintessential buddy cop duo that has been shown in cinema. Many others have come along throughout the years such as Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in the Rush Hour trilogy and Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in the Jump Street films. What those duos in their films have done is add a fresh comedic spin in the sub-genre that work. Riggs and Murtaugh work since it’s the cop who is by the book grouped with a cop who is a few screws loose. 

3. How does Christmas Fit In?

        So you may be wondering, how exactly does Lethal Weapon have to do with Christmas? Well, to be honest as I mentioned earlier it takes place during the holidays. You can see the various Christmas lights and trees in the film. Where we see Riggs first appearance is when he is a narc in a coke deal that takes place in a Christmas tree yard. I’m really stretching here but I noticed that family is a recurring thing that pops up in the film. We know that Murtaugh has a big family and his daughter gets wrapped up in the bad guy’s scheme. More so when Riggs’ only family is his pet dog collie who we see in the beginning. 

        When the duo investigate more into the crime. The woman is associated with Murtaugh’s friend. Michael Hunsaker played by Tom Atkins pleads to Roger to kill the people who killed his daughter. I feel that one specific thing is probably the only Christmas related motif that makes Lethal Weapon a Christmas film in a limited sense. 

4. Overall

        Lethal Weapon is a fun action film that came out before Die Hard. There are elements where there is comedy but it’s ostensibly an action film. It did spawn three sequels which I haven’t had the chance to see. More so a television show on FOX that ran for three seasons. It’s influence is shown in the show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia when the main characters create their own films of the hypothetical sequels. Since they’re all white, one of them had to be Murtaugh. It’s hilarious in an idiotic way.

        Lethal Weapon gets a four out of five.