Review: Lethal Weapon

Middle-aged family man cop Sgt. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) has just celebrated his 50^th birthday, and is not really thrilled about his advancing age. He’s even less thrilled to be paired up with a new partner, former special ops turned LAPD detective Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Riggs is burned-out, and after the recent death of his wife, pretty much suicidal. Possibly crazy, definitely on-the-edge. The two are initially like oil and water, as they investigate the murder of the daughter of Murtaugh’s old war buddy from ‘nam, Michael Hunsaker (Tom Atkins). Allegedly involved in the porn industry, the investigation soon turns towards a drug-smuggling ring headed by retired General McAllister (Mitchell Ryan) and his cold-blooded associate Mr. Joshua (Gary Freaking Busey). Darlene Love and Traci Wolfe play Murtaugh’s wife and eldest daughter, respectively, whilst Ed O’Ross plays a drug dealer, and Steve Kahan plays Riggs and Murtagh’s Captain and superior.

 

Time and a lot of sequels and imitators probably make it difficult for newer viewers to discern, but for me this 1987 buddy cop action-comedy from director Richard Donner (“The Omen”, “Superman”, “Ladyhawke”, “The Goonies”) and screenwriter Shane Black (“The Monster Squad”, “The Last Boy Scout”) is one of the greatest movies ever made. It may not have been the first film of its type (“48HRS” was fairly similar), but it’s definitely the best by far. The sequels are all fun, but there’s no doubt that they’re also all diluted versions of the formula that was perfected here.

 

One of the keys to the film’s success is the two very different lead characters. It may slow the plot down for some, but I really appreciate that Donner and Black have taken the time to let us get to know both Riggs and Murtaugh. The character dynamic/contrast is perfect: a 50 year-old family man just looking to not get killed before retirement, paired with a fucking suicidal lunatic cowboy cop. The Riggs character in particular, is fascinating but also has an edge that you just don’t get in other films of this sort. Sure, Eddie Murphy was a loose cannon in “48HRS”, but more in a verbal and comedic sense than anything. Hell, even the sequels diluted Riggs’ edge quite a bit. In this first outing, Riggs is a very, very troubled character in a world of pain, he’s clearly unstable. Mel Gibson is scarily convincing in the role, and the character really wouldn’t work if played by anyone else. Gibson clearly seems to know this guy inside out, and particularly in hindsight, it couldn’t be more perfect casting. He’s scarily unstable, but with just enough charm and good humour not to alienate the audience (It’s often a very funny film). You feel for him, if anything. It’s easily one of Gibson’s best-ever performances, certainly one of the most intense. That’s why Glover (who has rarely been better) is such a good match, as he brings a laidback, yet slightly crotchety quality so that when he and Gibson share the screen together, Riggs’ whack-job mentality gets the mild-mannered Murtaugh irritated. This crazy cop might just get Murtaugh killed, possibly both of them. Meanwhile, because this is the first film, we don’t know for sure that Riggs isn’t actually a liability, so there’s an extra dimension here that the sequels, good as they are, can’t compete with. The scene with Riggs and the suicide jumper is a genre classic in particular, both intense and funny at the same time.

 

The film has a solid supporting cast, with Mitchell Ryan making for a solid, well-spoken ‘white guy’ villain, and Gary Busey his more intimidating and unpredictable partner-in-crime. Ed O’Ross (“Red Heat”, “Action Jackson”) rounds out a trio of quintessential 80s actors playing villains, in a minor criminal associate, whilst cinema’s perfect blend of Fu Manchu and Genghis Khan, Al Leong (who appeared in “Big Trouble in Little China” and “Die Hard”) has one of his more memorable parts as master torturer and henchman Endo. He doesn’t last long, but you certainly won’t forget him. Known Schwarzenegger pal/co-star and frequent stuntman Sven-Ole Thorsen also turns up as a henchman, briefly. “Halloween III” and “Night of the Creeps” co-star Tom Atkins is also rock-solid in a few scenes as Murtaugh’s old war buddy. Donner regular Mary Ellen Trainor is amusing in her first appearance in the series as the much ridiculed police shrink, whilst her “Die Hard” co-star Grand L. Bush can briefly be seen as another cop. Veteran singer Darlene Love doesn’t get a whole lot of scenes in any of the “Lethal Weapon” series, but is lovely nonetheless. I’m also duty-bound to inform you that debutant Traci Wolfe, playing Murtaugh’s oldest daughter is now in her 50s, as of 2016. Yep, we’re old, people. We’re really, really getting old.

 

As far as I’m concerned, the only flaw with the entire film is that the villains aren’t in the film enough. The fact that I’ve only noticed this on my perhaps 10^th viewing of this film since 1987 tells me that this is, however, a minor flaw in an otherwise completely flawless film. One of the film’s biggest assets is its great blues guitar score by the late Michael Kamen (“The Dead Zone”, “Highlander”, “Action Jackson”, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”) and God.

 

A landmark of its type, a great action movie with plenty of humour, terrific performances, memorable characters, and Richard Donner’s shockingly underrated direction. This is a must, especially for the testosterone set. It’s great entertainment, especially if you can understand its place in cinematic history.

 

Rating: A+