Lethal Weapon
Reviews
John Chard
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
JPV852
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?)
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.
GenerationofSwine
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.
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!
Movie Recommendation
Lethal Weapon 21989-07-07Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.More...
Cocktail1988-07-29After being discharged from the Army, Brian Flanagan moves back to Queens and takes a job in a bar run by Doug Coughlin, who teaches Brian the fine art of bar-tending. Brian quickly becomes a patron favorite with his flashy drink-mixing style, and Brian adopts his mentor's cynical philosophy on life and goes for the money.More...
Lethal Weapon 31992-05-15Riggs and Murtaugh pursue a former officer who uses his knowledge of police procedure and policies to steal and sell confiscated guns and ammunition to local street gangs.More...
Lethal Weapon 41998-07-10With personal crises and age weighing in on them, Riggs and Murtaugh must contend with deadly Chinese triads trying to free their former leaders from prison and onto American soil.More...
Tequila Sunrise1988-12-02In a seaside California town, best friends Mac and Nick are on opposite sides of the law. Mac is a former drug dealer trying to clean up his act, while Nick is a high-profile detective trying to take down a Mexican drug lord named Carlos. Soon Nick's loyalties are put to the test when he begins an affair with restaurateur Jo Ann -- a love interest of Mac's -- unwittingly leading his friend into a police-orchestrated trap.More...
Betty Blue1986-04-09A lackadaisical handyman and aspiring novelist tries to support his younger girlfriend as she slowly succumbs to madness.More...
Project A Part II1987-07-25Dragon is now transferred to be the police head of Sai Wan district, and has to contend with a gangster kingpin, anti-Manchu revolutionaries, some runaway pirates, Manchu Loyalists and a corrupt police superintendent.More...
Ocean's Eleven2001-12-07Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny's hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess.More...
Doubt2008-12-12In 1964 Bronx, two Catholic school nuns question the new priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled African-American student.More...
RoboCop1987-07-17In a violent, near-apocalyptic Detroit, evil corporation Omni Consumer Products wins a contract from the city government to privatize the police force. To test their crime-eradicating cyborgs, the company leads street cop Alex Murphy into an armed confrontation with crime lord Boddicker so they can use his body to support their untested RoboCop prototype. But when RoboCop learns of the company's nefarious plans, he turns on his masters.More...
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988-12-02When the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin investigates events following the shooting of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.More...
An American Tail1986-11-21A young mouse named Fievel and his family decide to migrate to America, a "land without cats," at the turn of the 20th century. But somehow, Fievel ends up in the New World alone and must fend off not only the felines he never thought he'd have to deal with again but also the loneliness of being away from home.More...
To Live and Die in L.A.1985-11-01When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters.More...
The Karate Kid Part III1989-06-16Despondent over the closing of his karate school, Cobra Kai teacher John Kreese joins a ruthless businessman and martial artist to get revenge on Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.More...
Platoon1986-12-19As a young and naive recruit in Vietnam, Chris Taylor faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.More...
Dragnet1987-06-26LAPD Sgt. Joe Friday -- the equally straight-laced nephew of the famous police sergeant of the same name -- is paired up with a young, freewheeling detective named Pep Streebeck. After investigating some strange robberies at the local zoo and the theft of a stockpile of pornographic magazines, they uncover cult activity in the heart of the city and are hot on the case to figure out who's behind it all.More...
The Time to Live and the Time to Die1985-08-03An autobiographical film based on Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien's memories of his youth growing up in Taiwan after emigrating from mainland China.More...
The Wild Goose Lake2019-12-06A gangster ends up making a mistake that causes every gun on both sides of the law to point at him. While on the run, he comes across a mysterious woman who might get him out of trouble or make things worse.More...
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka1988-11-10Jack Spade returns from the army in his old ghetto neighbourhood when his brother, June Bug, dies. Jack declares war on Mr. Big, powerful local crimelord. His army is led by John Slade, his childhood idol who used to fight bad guys in the 70s.More...
Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death1989-03-15The U.S. government, eager to protect the nation's avacado supplies, recruits feminist professor Margo Hunt to make contact with the Piranha Women, an all-female tribe who believe men are only good as a source of food. Accompanying Dr. Hunt on her trip are Jim, a guide of questionable competence, and Bunny, a student of unquestionable incompetence.More...
Similar Movies
The Grifters
1990-08-08A small-time conman has his loyalties torn between his estranged mother and his new girlfriend, both of whom are high-stakes grifters with their own angles to play.Unaccompanied Minors
2006-12-08Five disparate kids snowed in at the airport on Christmas Eve learn some lessons about friendship when they launch a bid to get back to their families and outsmart a disgruntled airport official who wants to keep them grounded.Dirty Love
2005-09-23The klutzy yet stunning Rebecca Sommers walks in on her hunky boyfriend in bed with another woman. They break up and Rebecca starts to fall apart, but, with the help of her close girlfriends, she begins to date again. Unfortunately, the men she meets all happen to be crazy. John, her dorky guy friend, tries to express his secret love for Rebecca, but she's too busy to notice as she tries to come to terms with her breakup.Black Eagle
1988-05-01One of the US Air Force's most modern tactical aircrafts, an F-100 with a new laser guidance system, crashes into the sea near Malta - a region where the Soviet forces are highly present, too. The CIA immediately sends out their best secret agent, Ken Tani, to salvage the system before it falls into enemy hands. To ensure his loyalty, they bring his two young sons to a nearby hotel on the island.The Foreigner
2003-06-01This story is about a freelance agent who is the courier of a package from France to Germany. He soon finds that many people want to get their hands on it.Christmas at the Holl...
2023-11-06An overachieving executive quits her job just before Christmas and goes to her father's country inn to try to find some balance again.Targets
1968-08-15An aging horror-movie icon's fate intersects with that of a seemingly ordinary young man on a psychotic shooting spree around Los Angeles.The Bishop's Wife
1947-12-25An Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham, has been working for months on the plans for an elaborate new cathedral which he hopes will be paid for primarily by a wealthy, stubborn widow. He is losing sight of his family and of why he became a churchman in the first place. Enter Dudley, an angel sent to help him. Dudley does help everyone he meets, but not necessarily in the way they would have preferred. With the exception of Henry, everyone loves him, but Henry begins to believe that Dudley is there to replace him, both at work and in his family's affections, as Christmas approaches.The Blood of Wolves
2018-05-12Set in 1988 in Hiroshima, Japan, prior to the enactment of the anti-organized crime law. A rumor exists that Detective Shogo Ogami has ties with the yakuza. He is partnered with Detective Shuichi Hioka and they investigate a missing person case involving a financial company employee. Conflicts between opposing yakuza groups become more serious.Mystery Street
1950-06-23When a young woman's skeletal remains turn up on a Massachusetts beach, Barnstable cop Peter Moralas teams with Boston police and uses forensics, with the help of a Harvard professor, to determine the woman's identity, how she died, and who killed her.The Cowboy Way
1994-06-03Two championship rodeo partners travel to New York to find their missing friend, Nacho Salazar who went missing there.The Hebrew Hammer
2003-12-05When a psychotic Santa tries to destroy Chanukah by hypnotizing Jewish children with bootlegged copies of the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life," it's up to the Hebrew Hammer to save the day. Together with Mohammed, head of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front, the Hammer takes no prisoners in his quest to hunt down the renegade Santa and make the holiday season safe for all.In Hell
2003-11-24A man must survive a prison where hardened criminals battle to the death for the warden's entertainment.30 Days Until I'm Fam...
2004-05-07A Latina working in Los Angeles as a messenger is randomly discovered and fashioned into a pop music star.Beast Stalker
2008-11-27Sergeant Tong is wracked with guilt after he unwittingly kills a young girl whilst capuring a criminal named Cheung. When the girl's sister is later kidnapped in a ploy to get Cheung released, Sergeant Tong vows to find and rescue her before she comes to harm.Black Dawn
2006-02-13Jonathan Cold returns, this time he goes Undercover to stop a group of Terrorists before they bomb Los Angeles.Bride of Re-Animator
1990-09-01Unperturbed by the disastrous outcome of his previous meddling with the dead, Dr. West continues his research into the phenomenon of re-animation; only this time, he plans to create life – starting with the heart of his young protégé Dan's dearly deceased Meg Halsey.Hannah Montana: The M...
2009-04-10When Miley Stewart (aka pop-star Hannah Montana) gets too caught up in the superstar celebrity lifestyle, her dad decides it's time for a total change of scenery. But sweet niblets! Miley must trade in all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for some ol' blue jeans on the family farm in Tennessee, and question if she can be both Miley Stewart and Hannah Montana.Jingle Bell Rock: Mea...
2022-12-14The iconic “Jingle Bell Rock” scene from Mean Girls was transformed into an animated music video. Cady and the plastics bust out the moves in this holiday special with grooves by Safari Riot. Don't miss this short film filled with holiday cheer and Mean Girls easter eggs. So FETCH!It Gooed From Outer S...
2025-02-17After a beautiful adventure full of excitement and mystery, Ulysses and Frank head to Oscar's house to seek refuge. Though things don't go exactly as planned when the FBI show up.