Review of Lethal Weapon (1987) by Will H — 19 Apr 2012
The 1980s were clearly the high point of the buddy action-comedy genres, between Beverly Hills Cop, The Naked Gun, Midnight Run, The Blues Brothers, and of course, the Lethal Weapon movies, and the first film is truly an explosive dynamo of witty humor and well-put-together action.
Director Richard Donner had already proven his skill at mainstream filmmaking (see: Superman: The Movie), but shows a previously unseen grit here, giving a film that, despite its lighthearted moments, is a surprisingly dark and violent story of suicide, drugs, and crime.
But at the same time, it's a story of two very different cops, brought together as friends by their shared experiences. Donner skillfully directs the action, giving all the explosions, gunfights, and the hard-htting climax a sense of stakes.
Writer Shane Black comes up with some of the most memorable lines in movie history ("I'm too old for this s***!"), and gives the characters of Riggs and Murtaugh real, if occasionally in-your-face, depth.
However, buddy cop movies often really belong to their stars, and this one is no exception. Mel Gibson gives a strong performance, both edgy and funny, as Martin Riggs, who appears both crazy and sane, suicidal and stable, but is undeniably a loose cannon.
And Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh is the perfect foil, as a conservative, restrained, and by-the-book cop and family man, just doing his job and looking out for his loved ones. Riggs and Murtaugh are indeed the stars, but this shouldn't discount the supporting cast, as Gary Busey gives a very memorable (and suitably insane) performance as hitman/enforcer Mr.
Joshua, as does Mitchell Ryan as his boss. Michael Kamen's score is extremely 80s, but suitable, and Stuart Baird's editing is, as always, top-of-the-line. I feel that Lethal Weapon was always written with sequels in mind, as here, Riggs and Murtaugh are just coming together, and there were definitely more stories to tell.
That being said, Lethal Weapon stands very well on its own, and is one of the best of its kind.
This review of Lethal Weapon (1987) was written by Will H on 19 Apr 2012.
Lethal Weapon has generally received very positive reviews.
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