Lethal Weapon (1987)
Directed by: Richard Donner
Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Traci Wolfe
After 20 years on the force, police detective Roger Murtaugh has come face-to-face with the most dangerous killing machine in Los Angeles... his new partner.
So I decided to rewatch Lethal Weapon this evening, as it has been a while since I last viewed it and a podcast I listen to is doing a Shane Black retrospective this week. (Shout out to Adam and his B-Movie podcast, which you can find over at FilmDispenser.com)
I think I've said this before on the blog, but there is an era of action films that I love most; that period from 1985-1997. And Lethal Weapon is at the top of that list for me, along side Die Hard. To me, Lethal Weapon is the best action buddy cop film, and is a great start to a franchise. Just like with Die Hard, the first entry is my favorite, but I have a soft spot for the 3 sequels.
Lethal Weapon has a lot going for it. A great script by Shane Black, who wrote one of my favorite action films of the '90s (The Last Boy Scout) and then a chemistry between the two main actors that make the film. Seriously, if Gibson and Glover didn't have the chemistry they do on screen, Lethal Weapon wouldn't work. They bring Riggs and Murtaugh to life, and one of the great things about the sequel is seeing their relationship grow.
Gary Busey as secondary villain Mr. Joshua is one of my favorite villains of the entire franchise. He brings just enough crazy to the role. We also have Tom Atkins and Al Leong in minor roles.
There isn't a thing about this film that I don't love. The set up of the characters is perfect, and the third act is so good. One of my favorite interactions between Riggs and Murtaugh takes place after Murtaugh gets the phone call regarding his daughter's kidnapping.
Roger Murtaugh: Are you really crazy? Or are you as good as you say you are?
Martin Riggs: You're just gonna have to trust me.
I'll probably end up watching the three sequels soon, as it's been a while since there last viewing. And, if I'm feeling up to it, another blog post (or 3, depending on how/when I decide to write).
