Review of Lethal Weapon (1987) by Shawn T — 17 Jun 2012
A decently nimble action-adventure about suicide, racism, and a very simple cops-vs.-villains dynamic running through mid-'80s LA. Mel Gibson's reputation precedes him: his breakthrough isn't great -- his character is drawn in a simplistically shitty way as a loud crackpot nihilist, and he does get the torture we know he wants -- but this certainly is not a terrible movie overall.
Danny Glover plays Murtaugh, a veteran cop (of the famous "I'm too old for this shit" line), and Gibson plays Riggs, a younger ace with a mullet and a death wish. A lot of early action movies are overstuffed and lame (Die Hard, Dirty Harry, etc.), but LETHAL WEAPON is surprisingly lean and well-roasted, even in its worst moments. The smooth jazz is a little irritating, but when the mystery finally heats up -- mercury switch, Special Forces tattoo, Gary Busey as a heroin entrepreneur -- it reveals itself to be something pretty special.
This review of Lethal Weapon (1987) was written by Shawn T on 17 Jun 2012.
Lethal Weapon has generally received very positive reviews.
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