Lethal Weapon Collection

Mel Gibson

Danny Glover

Gary Busey

Mitchell Ryan

Tom Atkins

Darlene Love

Traci Wolfe

Jackie Swanson

Damon Hines

Ebonie Smith

Bill Kalmenson

Lycia Naff

Patrick Cameron

Don Gordon

Jimmie F. Skaggs

Jason Ronard

Blackie Dammett

Gail Bowman

Robert Fol

Selma Archerd

Richard B. Whitaker

Mary Ellen Trainor

Steve Kahan

Jack Thibeau

Grand L. Bush

Ed O'Ross

Gustav Vintas

Paul Tuerpe

Chad Hayes

Chris D.

Sven-Ole Thorsen

Peter DuPont

Gilles Kohler

Cedric Adams

Jim J. Poslof

Al Leong

Michael Shaner

Natalie Zimmerman

Deborah Dismukes

Cheryl Baker

Terri Lynn Doss

Sharon K. Brecke

Donald Gooden

Alphonse Philippe Mouzon

Shaun Hunter

Everitt Wayne Collins Jr.

Lenny Juliano

Henry Brown

Brian Strohm

Teresa Kadotani

Frank Reinhard

John O'Neill

Tom Noga

Larry Clardy

Renée Estevez

Bob Harks

Conrad Hurtt

Mic Rodgers

Joan Severance

Chris Tashima

Norman D. Wilson

Richard Donner

Stephen Goldblatt

Michael Kamen

Joel Silver

Shane Black

Marvin March

Marion Dougherty

J. Michael Riva

Eric Clapton

Stuart Baird

Mary Malin

Scott H. Eddo

James Guthrie

Gregory J. Barnett

Jeff Imada

John Alden

Dana Mackey

Dar Robinson

Monty Cox

Benjamin Rosenberg

Terry Miller

Jimmy Nickerson

Glenn R. Wilder

Jophery C. Brown

Billy Hank Hooker

Mark Lonsdale

Steve DeFrance

Mike De Luna

David R. Ellis

Keith Tellez

Mychal D. Smith

Geary McLeod

Jay Engel

Jennie Lew Tugend

Jeff Dashnaw

Steve Perry

Bennie Moore

Bill Nelson

Jules Strasser

Rick Whitesman

Eva Anna Andry

Virginia Randolph-Weaver

Ronnie Rondell Jr.

Richard Walden

Christopher Brooks

Randell Dennis Widner

Bess Wiley

Alan Robert Murray

Richard M. Ellis

Shane Dixon

Donna Evans

Chad Randall

Diane Hetfield

Freddie Hice

Robert G. Henderson

Jack Eberhart

Cisco Valderrama

Cal Roberts

Michael Strong

Bill King

Paula Shaw

Kirk Bales

Marion Tumen

David Israel

Paul Abascal

Ron Peebles

Barry Delaney

Tim McArdle

John Panzarella

Frank M. Holgate

Paki Wolfe

Dallas D. Dornan

Julie Adams

Bobby Bass

Charles Saldaña III

Erik L. Nelson

Les Fresholtz

William J. Meshover

Willie E. Simmons, Jr.

John R. Shannon

Gordon Davidson

George Stokes

Laura Hoffman

Rick Alexander

Richard Oswald

Milton C. Burrow

Chuck Gaspar

Katherine Ann Moore

James F. Orendorff

Neil Burrow

Jan Garner

Bruce Lacey

Vern Poore

Juno J. Ellis

David Horton Sr.

Myra Hill

Annie Ellis

Mary Peters

Action

Thriller

Crime

Lethal Weapon

Silver Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures

United States of America

CinemaSerf

On the face of it, it's a lot like "Beverly Hill Cop" (1984) only the chemistry between rookies "Riggs" (Mel Gibson) and "Murtaugh" (Danny Glover) is way more gritty, sharp and comical. The pair could hardly be more different when they are partnered. The former has a messy history, the latter is older with an unlucky one but when combined this mismatch proves quite effective. Initially it's the murder of a well-connected hooker and daughter of a marine colleague of "Murtaugh" from Vietnam that sees the two forced together, but it's not long before the Laurel and Hardy of modern policing are delivering results, especially when they find themselves on the trail of some big-time drug smugglers who are probably implicated in her murder. Not only that, but it appears the criminals are themselves former military and so no easy target for our intrepid, slightly disaster-prone, investigators. Gibson and Glover just click here. They are naturals as they present play polar opposite characters amiably and enthusiastically. There's plenty of smart-mouthed dialogue, loads of action and Gibson's almost maniacal behaviour at times is really quite funny. Of course there's no jeopardy, and yes it does sort of squeal franchise at you, but if what's to come can mirror this fast-paced and entertaining adventure, then bring it on!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think the PC thing is that I'm not supposed to like this one but I'm supposed to like the horrible TV series instead? Something like that?

Forget about it this is Shane Black at his finest macho shoot 'em up standards. And it's fun.

Two cops, two Vietnam vets, two wonderfully colorful characters come together to solve a murder that grows and grows and grows until it becomes appropriately over the top and action packed fun.

And, of course, by over-the-top I mean it spirals into the land of unbelievable in the way that only the finest action movies can deliver.

The Movie Mob

**You’re never too old for this!**

Lethal Weapon is the ultimate buddy cop action movie. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s chemistry delights as the crazed young gun and the old experienced cop grow to respect and trust each other. Mel Gibson gives another iconic performance in his catalog of outstanding characters as the quirky and lovable but traumatizing Martin Riggs struggling to find a reason to hope. Danny Glover’s grouchy but endearing Roger Murtaugh is a perfect balance to Riggs. The two develop a loyalty throughout the film that makes the audience invest and care. At its core, Lethal Weapon is an epic action movie where the good guys kick some serious butt! For the 80s, this movie raised the bar for the action genre. My only complaint would be the first few minutes have some nudity that, if left out, would have made this a contender for the ultimate holiday action movie.

One of the best action movies of all-time in my book, and right there with Die Hard, Lethal Weapon still holds up so well thanks to the chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Even with the over-the-top staged fight scene at the end, this is just an all around entertaining flick.

(Reason I decided to watch it again today was saw it was on A&E and rather than watch a crappy edited version, why not watch the real deal in 1080p HD?)

We got the edge Cochise.

Close to retirement, Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh is a bit disturbed to find he's breaking in a new partner. Even more so when it turns out to be fellow Detective Martin Riggs, who since the death of his wife has scant regard for life, his own or those around him.

Light on plot and character development, Lethal Weapon none the less shines bright as a beacon of how a buddy buddy action film should be done. Roughly an hour and forty five minutes of quips, action, villainy, heroics and cross generational/cultural divides. All what else is needed is a star duo with buoyant chemistry - thankfully  Richard Donner's movie has it by the clip load.

Mel Gibson is Riggs, a trigger happy suspected loony on the ragged edge, wonderfully playing off of Danny Glover's (superb) "too old for this nonsense" sage old copper. Riggs is a hard dude who quickly became a cinematic hero to many, an unstoppable force with a quip on the tongue and a glint in his eye, to which Gibson is terrific and perfectly cast.

Gary Busey's "psycho's are us" henchman flits in and out the picture with gleeful nastiness and Shane Black's script crackles as the super stunt work starts to take a hold. Chief villain Mitchell Ryan as The General is almost a bystander though, and there's the odd piece of careless editing, but really Lethal Weapon has a winning formula that the box office punters promptly lapped up. 

Three sequels, all of which are of differing quality, would follow it, but this is a template movie for the genre and worthy of nostalgic revisits any time of day. 8/10

Lethal Weapon

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