Review of Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013

After the success of Lethal Weapon (1987), Warner Bros. instantly demanded a sequel, screenwriter Shane Black had an idea for one, which he left to screenwriter Jeffrey Boam (The Dead Zone (1983) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)), with Richard Donner back as director.

This one has the best cast of all the Lethal Weapon films, all doing great work. After LAPD Sergeants Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) come across a car filled with gold Kruggerands from South Africa, they investigate further.

But are warned off by Arjen Rudd (Joss Ackland), who works for the South African Consulate, and his head of security Pieter Vorstedt (Derrick O'Connor). Meanwhile, Riggs and Murtaugh are asked to protect federal witness Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), who laundered money for drug smugglers.

But, it soon transpires that the drug smugglers have ties to the South African Consulate, but Riggs and Murtaugh won't let that stop them. It's a very good action sequel, where the franchise hit it's stride, although it's not very sympathetic towards South Africa, although it was the time of Apartheid, so they deserved it then.

Gibson and Glover make a good double act, and it's good to see Ackland as a baddie here, gloating "Diplomatic Immunity".