Review of Lethal Weapon (1987) by Maineutral R — 16 Jun 2014

Back then, a groundbreaking action film. Today, a classic-fun buddy cop action movie. This pretty much established all the buddy-cop nods that became clichés in other movies of the same sub-genre. Bad Boys, End of Watch, many other movies using tired clichés that Lethal Weapon redefined, and one can see why. First off, this is only the first step in the Gibson-Glover fun team-up that still today remains the most beloved cop-buddies in film, all in the hand of Superman director, Richard Donner.

Saying what's good about this film is easy if I just tell the things that bothered me instead, the rest it's just fine: This really isn't a great movie, it has some shitty character development, save for the main leads (and that kinda holds the movie alone) and has a, who do I call it? Uneven pacing. Things happen fast and without a constant rhythm, and some of the emotional issues of the main leads are solved merely by action scenes, and no real reason. Yeah, it is true. But this was a much simpler time, as action movies didn't need to be dark or smart, just fun, exhilarating and re-watchable. I had similar issues with RoboCop, the 80's original. I'm mostly a guy from the 90's, and even so, I'm not a huge fan of 90's movies, I'm mostly a contemporary guy, I like the dark and smart action movies now. Yet I do recognize a classic when I see it, and Lethal Weapon is certainly one hell of a classic action movie.

Well, it's hard for me to fall in love this movie; it's a bit too simple for my preferences. But even so, it is good, not great, but good, nearly-great. It is huge fun, just like the action movies of yesterday. But maybe it isn't that the action movies of before where better, maybe we were just younger. Years from now, many will call movies like the Dark Knight trilogy "dated" and movies like "Her" as "ridiculous", and maybe in some years, we will not like the future movies after our time. Yet, a really good movie is timeless, and Lethal Weapon might, MIGHT be one of these movies. A huge pile of fun.