Review of Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) by Kevin T — 05 May 2009

Lethal Weapon 4 is my favorite of the franchise. Yeah yeah I know, probably should take a lot of heat for liking a sequel more than the original, but I don't really care.

Lethal Weapon was serious, Lethal Weapon 2 was serious with a comedic relief, Lethal Weapon 3 was a comedy, and Lethal Weapon 4 managed to find a balance of comedy and action that pretty much destroyed 3.

Lethal Weapon 4 manages to contain over the top action sequences, but still manage to bring a certain realism to its choreography. One of the biggest problems I have with modern action/comedy mixes is the fact that our heroes are always blundering idiots that win by accident. Take Rush Hour 2, when Chris Tucker fights Ziyi Zhang, he falls over, knocking a blade accidentally into his attackers shoulder. I could go on and on, but I won't.

With this movie though, Riggs is still a bad ass, trained soldier who just manages to get bested by a superior combatant (Jet Li), making for fights that convey a sense of struggle and realism.

Also, Lethal Weapon 4 hits a vibe with characters that just makes it insanely fun to watch. The opening action sequence, which has Riggs and Murtough fighting a heavily armored man wielding a flamethrowing and an assault rifle, is full of hilarious dialog and a sense of danger that just makes it unique in its own way.

Plus, ya know, it gains a bit of bonus points because Mel Gibson doesn't have a mullet in this one.

Either way, if you're looking for a really enjoyable film with some pretty good action, check out Lethal Weapon 4. If you want something darker and more serious, watch 1 or 2. Ignore 3.