Review of Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) by Filipeneto — 02 Oct 2021

This film is the third in the "Lethal Weapon" franchise and takes us on a new adventure of the two most unorthodox police officers: Sergeants Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs will investigate a crime that leads them to discover that there is someone inside the police force who it is diverting seized weapons and ammunition destined for destruction in order to sell them on the streets.

Personally, I think this film has managed to stand up to the two predecessors. There's a lot of good material here and the film seeks to innovate and keep the audience's interest: there are new characters and the film doesn't seem like an excuse for impressive and endless scenes of action, fights and shootouts. Still, it sins for not having a story as convincing, interesting and well written as it should. Confused, at times disjointed and illogical, the plot does not sustain the film and only with great generosity do we give the film the indulgences it needs to function.

The cast counts, of course, with the collaborations of Mel Gibson, Joe Pesci and Danny Glover, among other actors. Glover is very good, and the character receives, for this film, an additional dose of dramatic charge. Murtaugh never looked so tired and worn out. Gibson gives his character a less explosive tone: if in previous films Riggs seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, here he manages to have a rational, coherent train of thought, a capacity for strategic action. Pesci stops being the franchise's goofball and starts to collaborate, actively and even usefully, with the cops he's become friends with. The film also features Rene Russo, an actress of great ability who gives life to an agent of Internal Affairs, in charge of an investigation that will end up collaborating with Riggs.

Technically, it's a regular movie. The bet goes to the special effects, visuals and sound, which are really good. The sets, as well as the costumes, fulfill their role well and the cinematography doesn't stand out, but it doesn't look bad either. The soundtrack, I confess, didn't particularly catch my attention.