Review of Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) by Caleb H — 07 Aug 2012

Sometimes, a movie formula works so well that it doesn't need to be improved, refined, or amped up for a sequel, and Lethal Weapon has a pretty easy formula. A paper-thin plot, some scummy bad guys, violence and profanity galore, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover.

The natural chemistry between the two actors' Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh is easily the best part of this franchise, and their antagonistic bromance is in full-swing here. Riggs is still a loose-cannon nutbag, and Murtaugh is still the straight-man, roles both actors play with the kind of jokey camaraderie that makes a sometimes overviolent and unpleasant movie feel like lighthearted fun.

And the great Eric Clapton's guitar still punches through the scenery with a kind of Clapton-Panache that nobody can mimic. The plot, which this time focuses on a group of smuggling South African diplomats (which gives Gibson some great "master race" one-liners) is pretty standard action movie stuff.

Fortunately, Richard Donner is a fan of constantly trying to outdo himself, so the action sequences-which include a fight in a falling house, a boat shootout, and the obligatory explosive car chase-are all filmed with a growing sense of panache.

This time around, Lethal Weapon adds Joe Pesci (who would become a franchise staple) to the mix, and he gets a lot of mileage as a fast-talking, obnoxious sheyster type. Pesci' has the same easy chemistry with Gibson and Glover, and his presence-which could have been grating and obnoxious-is actually one of the higher points.

The film's heavy ("The fat guy") is played by Joss Ackland, who made a career out of playing oily scumbags, he's the perfect action movie villain-hidden behind a bunch of scowling henchman, sleazy, and easy to hate.

Oh, and kudos to Patsy Kensit, as Riggs' love interest. She's not the greatest actress, but who cares when she looks like THAT? Look, I find it really hard to hate the Lethal Weapon movies. They don't drastically improve, and nobody involved is trying to reinvent the wheel.

They're fun, the actors are perfectly cast, and honestly, with the trend towards dark and serious action films of late, the unpretentious nature of these films is a nice switch. And Gibson and Glover seem to be having so damn much fun it's infectious.

Think of it as the two guys who are always at your bar; you wouldn't want to live with them, but watching them bicker and joke for a few hours can be a fucking blast.