Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock, Jet Li

For a series that started with a story set around the Christmas holidays, it seems fitting that the “Lethal Weapon” series should end with one that’s all about family. But, as with the transition from one year to the next, it is not strictly endings of which this movie speaks, but also the thrilling uncertainty of new beginnings. Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtagh (Danny Glover) have been dodging bullets through three movies, with Riggs in particular having very little in this world to lose. With both now feeling a little too old for this shit, and each with pregnant loved ones, the risks that come with the job of an LAPD detective have become greater than ever before for our intrepid heroes.

As with “Lethal Weapon 3” this one starts off quite literally with a bang, although slightly downsized in terms of the scale of destruction. In deflating the hydrogen-fueled rage of a flamethrower-wielding madman, Riggs and Murtagh do not have to destroy an entire building to stop him. This time, they settle for blowing up a gas station. During this fiery opening, the two reveal to one another a secret which they’ve been keeping. Murtagh knows that Riggs’ girlfriend Lorna (Rene Russo) is pregnant. Riggs likewise informs Murtagh that he’s going to be a grandfather, a fact which Riggs has fun with after he hears from Lorna that the father of Murtagh’s oldest daughter’s child is Detective Lee Butters (Chris Rock). Nine months later, Riggs and Murtagh stumble across a large boat driven by Chinese smugglers. The cargo they’re carrying? Men, women and children, intended to be sold off as slave labor. Murtagh, being a descendant of slaves, doesn’t much care for the idea, and takes in an entire family.

While much of the action at the Murtagh home doesn’t add much to the story, what is of interest is the ultimate scheme of the villains. The man behind these nefarious activities, played by action star Jet Li (sporting a haircut which I refer to as the “Rattail of Doom”), is different from any foe Riggs and Murtagh have faced before. In the three previous films, each of the bad guys all had in common the pursuit of wealth. Jet Li’s character is only interested in counterfeiting money as a means to an end. His real goal is to use that money as a bargaining chip for the release from prison of some equally dangerous men, including his own brother.

At this point, anyone watching the series can go in expecting a few things to happen. For example: 1) An incident occurs that forces a promotion/demotion for Riggs & Murtagh. In this case, they are promoted to the rank of Captain. 2) The Murtagh household is going to be in a state of disrepair. This time, there may be no repairing it. 3) Riggs is going to have to pop his dislocated shoulder back into place. This is also generally the spot in the film where Riggs becomes his most pissed off. 4) Murtagh will be forced into an embarrassing situation that serves no purpose other than to amuse Riggs. This happens not once but twice.

As LW3 did, we retain co-stars from previous outings. Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) is only a little less useless this time, if only because he has good chemistry with Riggs and Murtagh, hilarious exchanges with Butters, and a touching moment with Riggs near the film’s end. Particularly disappointing is that Lorna, who was the feminine equal of Riggs last time, is reduced to little more than a baby machine this time around (although she does get a couple of licks in during one fight scene). Chris Rock as Butters is a great new addition, but I must say that if you find him funny here, I implore you to check out Rock’s stand-up act.

After a particularly bland adventure last time, this one still lacks the punch of the first two “Lethal Weapon” films, yet never stops trying. It’s helped in part by Jet Li, whom I’ve only ever seen play a bad guy role here. In fact, now that I think about it, this was actually the first of these movies I ever saw. On its own, its an entertaining action movie. I especially like the consistency in the casting (even Murtagh’s kids are all still being played by the same actors as they were eleven years earlier), which helps generate the familiarity necessary for a movie so concerned with the subject of family. By now, we’re so familiar with these people that we almost feel as though we know them. Talks of a “Lethal Weapon 5” have been thrown around for years, but I don’t believe it will (or should) ever happen… not without interest from its lead actors, who truly have become “too old for this shit.”

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci. Rene Russo, Stuart Wilson

What better reason to try new things than because we need a break from the norm? Routine is fine, but if we always did the same thing, there would be no room for excitement; no chance for mystery. We would always know every moment of every day in advance from beat to beat. Yet, in some instances, routine is best. In those instances, straying from the norm upsets the natural balance, and therein lies chaos. Movies, and reviews of movies, act in much the same way. Horror movies, especially the franchises of the 1980’s, worked best when they adhered to a specific formula. “Friday the 13th” was the best example. Once the series started to take risks and move away from the elements that made it popular in the first place, the result was a product the fanbase could no longer recognize. In the case of the action series, “Lethal Weapon,” the exact opposite proves to be true. These movies worked best when they were at their most daring. By the time of “Lethal Weapon 3,” the saga of Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtagh (Danny Glover) had slipped into a more “comfortable” formula.

Roger Murtagh is a week away from retirement… but don’t believe it, because there’s still a “Lethal Weapon 4” in his future. He’s even putting the family home up for sale. His wife is adamant that he take care of himself, which of course means that he’ll find his way into trouble on each of his remaining days on the force, especially with a guy like Martin Riggs as his partner. Trouble begins one night with the terroristic demolition of a large building downtown. Murtagh and Riggs were on the scene and were supposed to wait for the bomb squad, but Riggs took it upon himself to cut what ended up being the wrong wire. Busted down to beat cop status, the two happen upon another crime in progress (or is it the other way around?) when an armored car is hijacked. Enlisting the aid of a second armored car’s driver, Murtagh backs up Riggs who manages to detain one of the thieves.

Before the case can go very far, the thief is executed by his boss, ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jack Travis (Stuart Wilson), known for having been a particularly dirty cop who was sadistic when it came to the interrogation of suspects. He’s found a bigger payoff and fewer rules in arms dealing. Luckily for him, Travis just so happens to know where the city’s best supply is: the LAPD storage locker. He and his men are also loading their own personal weapons with armor-piercing bullets, ramping up the danger level. At the same time that Travis is sneaking in to kill his lackey, the LAPD is being paid a visit by Internal Affairs. Riggs and Murtagh meet Sgt. Lorna Cole (Rene Russo) in the elevator. Almost immediately, Lorna and Riggs start butting heads… a clear sign that they’ll wind up in bed together before it’s all over.

Without a doubt, Lorna Cole is the best thing about “Lethal Weapon 3.” Having been raised in a household full of boys, she’s hardly the damsel-in-distress type. She’s as good at knocking the bad guys on their asses as either of our two male heroes. Much to Riggs’ surprise, they share a love of the Three Stooges. In my favorite scene, they also share a certain pride in their battle scars, each playfully trying to one-up the other. Most of the scars Riggs points out are from wounds accumulated during the first two films. Lorna is the cure for the wound in his heart. While Lorna is a terrific new addition, one character lingers unnecessarily. As much as I loved him in “Lethal Weapon 2,” I have no idea what Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) is still doing here. Suddenly, he’s switched professions to that of a real estate agent, which conveniently keeps him around for Riggs and Murtagh to belittle him as they did before. Also convenient is his familiarity with Jack Travis, which nearly gets him killed at an L.A. Kings hockey game. Having Leo around again reminds us of why we liked him before, but it also reminds us of how well he fit into the story of the previous film.

The villain, Jack Travis, is almost as big a problem. As if the cop gone bad storyline weren’t overdone enough, his motives are either unclear or just plain uninspired. Sure, he’s stealing the weapons the LAPD has confiscated and is getting them back on the streets which is diabolical, but what is it all for besides money? Probably nothing, and this time, that’s just not enough. I’ve seen this movie several times, and I’m still not sure I understand how the construction site that figures in the climactic showdown was supposed to fit into everything. Travis is also not a terribly imposing figure, and pales in comparison to the Special Forces unit from “Lethal Weapon” and the South African druglords from “Lethal Weapon 2.”

Still, in spite of the flaws which make this a tepid, ordinary action movie, the chemistry between Gibson and Glover is still solid, and the humor is just as effective, even as the serious tone from the last two chapters which served as a counterbalance has been toned down. It’s also still fun to watch Riggs morph back into crazy Riggs when his life and the lives of those he cares about are threatened. I would have liked for this one to leave me feeling like I hadn’t seen the same story play out many times before. While Riggs and Murtagh have found that they have more to lose than ever before, I can’t help but wish that the filmmakers had taken the same approach.

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Joss Ackland, Derrick O’Connor, Patsy Kensit

If sequels are supposed to be inferior by design, then how does that explain movies like “Lethal Weapon 2”? Coming from one of the most sequel-heavy summers of all-time, where most were just unimaginative retreads of their predecessors, “Lethal Weapon 2” does not fall into the same traps, introducing terrific new characters and proving itself willing to take risks (within reason, as there was still a franchise to think about), managing at different points to be more light-hearted and darker than the first film. Furthermore, it never takes its foot off the gas, and the audience is too excited to be on the ride to care that the plot is quite preposterous.

Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) is at a more stable place in his life than he was when we first met him. He’s coming to terms with the death of his wife, Victoria, and has found a friend in his LAPD partner, Roger Murtagh (Danny Glover). Just because he has fun at Roger’s expense doesn’t mean he doesn’t respect the hell out of his friend, as do all of their fellow officers (among them, Jennette Goldstein of “Aliens” fame and Dean Norris from TV’s “Breaking Bad” and “Under the Dome”). At least he’s no longer living on the edge, though his continued willingness to leap into the proverbial burning fire suggests that he could still be pushed to the brink at any given moment.

Having previously thwarted the plans of a drug smuggling ex-Special Forces unit, the latest adversary for the team of Riggs and Murtagh shows up in the form of South Africans protected by diplomatic immunity. These smug, racist pricks laugh as they make illegal shipments of gold krugerrands, trade drugs for a mountain of $1000 bills, and murder police officers who won’t back off as well as employees who either betray or fail them. That any one of these offenses (much less all put together) would not protect them in the real world even in the slightest degree is never meant to enter one’s mind.

Riggs and Murtagh, after failing to make an arrest during the extended chase scene that opens the film, are assigned as the protective detail for a material witness named Leo Getz (Joe Pesci). By sheer coincidence, he had been laundering money for the South Africans, but is now justifiably in fear for his life because he’d been using his gifts for numbers to skim a little off the top of their profits for himself. He figured, incorrectly, that they wouldn’t notice. One of the highlights, if not the best thing about “Lethal Weapon 2,” is Leo. In addition to giving someone for both Riggs and Murtagh to slap down when he’s being a nuisance, Leo also offers hilarious, relatable commentary. Listen to his rant about drive-thru restaurants and tell me you’ve never felt the same way as he does.

During breaks in the gunplay and trading of insults with the South Africans, Riggs takes a further step towards his emotional recovery in pursuing a relationship with the beautiful Rika (Patsy Kensit). Although clearly attracted to him at first sight, Rika is at first reluctant to accept his advances, noticing the wedding band that he still wears. Of course, no relationship comes without certain risks. Rika works as the secretary for Arjen Rudd (Joss Ackland), leader of the South African consulate and #1 enemy of the LAPD.

It’s so true that action movies can succeed or fail based on the strength of their villains. The case could also be made that the reason why sequels fail to measure up is because their villains are at best a pale imitation by comparison. Clint Eastwood’s Harry Callahan never had a better match than Andrew Robinson’s Scorpio in “Dirty Harry.” No “Die Hard” bad guy could command attention better than Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber. These are but a few examples of action movie antagonists whose magic could not be duplicated, yet there are some cases where the second time is the charm. Although Gary Busey and Mitchell Ryan were great counterpoints to Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the first “Lethal Weapon,” I find that it’s Joss Ackland and Derrick O’Connor who create the slimiest foes which Riggs and Murtagh ever faced. O’Connor plays Vorstedt as a particularly nasty bastard, one who seems to know a bit more about Riggs than he should.

My favorite summer for movies to this day, the Summer of 1989 produced a truckload of sequels amidst its blockbusters; some successful, some not. A few I went to see theatrically, while others I waited to catch onto at a later date. “Lethal Weapon 2” was one of the latter, mainly because I was only seven years old at the time. I can still recall seeing the trailer which, if memory serves, was attached to Tim Burton’s “Batman.” The “Lethal Weapon 2” trailer’s final image of a toilet landing on the hood of a police car is one I never forgot.

Still one of the greatest “potty humor” moments in cinema.

“Lethal Weapon 2” is among that small minority of sequels that either live up to or surpass the original. I don’t know how they did it, but this movie is both more light-hearted and darker than “Lethal Weapon.” There’s a lot more humor, thanks in part to the ingenious creation of the Leo Getz character and to certain running gags like Murtagh’s rapidly disintegrating, formerly brand new car and the suggestive commercial starring Murtagh’s daughter. This sequel also goes to a darker place than previously explored, particularly in the events leading to the final act. It also does a nice job tackling the real-world topic of Apartheid (which only lasted another five years in South Africa). After this, the series faced the same problem as most action series eventually deal with, that surpassing this chapter was likely a futile goal. I enjoy these characters and this story so much that, even if there weren’t a “Lethal Weapon 3” and “4,” I would still feel content knowing that this one is out there.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan

Barely more than five minutes pass in “Lethal Weapon” before three characters are individually introduced wearing little to no clothes. I’ve seen a lot of commentary about this portion of the film on the Internet, the discussion ranging from “Why not? What’s wrong with that?” to “What’s the point of it all?” I can’t disagree with the former, and I can answer the latter. Each of these three characters, when introduced to us, have in their own way reached a place in their lives where they are at their most vulnerable, where they can no longer hide who they are or how they feel. Hence, they are truly naked.

Amanda Hunsaker, whom we see first, is drugged out of her mind on cocaine, so much so that she thinks she can fly from her high-rise apartment building. The drugs, we later learn, were poisoned with drain cleaner, so poor Amanda would have been dead no matter what. Next, we meet one of the film’s protagonists in L.A.P.D. Sgt. Roger Murtagh (Danny Glover), who is enjoying a nice bath when his family barges into the bathroom with a cake. It’s Roger’s 50th birthday, and he’s considering retirement (emphasis on “considering”). Finally, we meet the other hero character of “Lethal Weapon.” Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) is a cop like Murtagh, and the two are destined to partner up. Unlike Murtagh, Riggs’ personal life is anything but stable. He’s still grieving for his wife, lost to him in a tragic car crash a couple of years earlier. He walks around the inside of his trailer in the buff, drinking himself silly. Every day, this man thinks about taking his own life. His wild hair reflects his unstable mind. Criminals and fellow cops alike think he’s crazy. The only reason Riggs won’t off himself, he admits, is “the job.” Riggs lives for taking down the bad guys. The main plot of “Lethal Weapon” gives him ample opportunity to do just that.

When Murtagh and Riggs are first paired up, there’s nothing either would rather do besides work together. Someone up there must hate them, they think. Murtagh just wants to get through this assignment alive, fearing that even his unstable new partner might get him killed. Riggs is still in such a bad place emotionally that he walks into the line of fire of a sniper, handcuffs himself to a rooftop jumper, and even dares Murtagh to shoot him during a private discussion. Riggs is also one of the greatest shots in the world. He was lethal during the Vietnam War, of which Murtagh is also a veteran. Riggs was in a U.S. Army Special Forces unit. This comes up because one of the perps they’re tracking down happens to wear the same tattoo as Riggs. That man is named Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey), and he’s part of a team which was… and is still… known as “Shadow Company.” These days, they’re drug traffickers, led by Gen. Peter McAllister (Mitchell Ryan). The revelation of the connection to Special Forces leads both to believe that Amanda’s father, an old army buddy of Murtagh’s, is connected somehow, and that his daughter was murdered to keep him in line. The involvement of Riggs and Murtagh in the case predictably serves to put them on Shadow Company’s radar. Murtagh, being a family man, has much more to lose than Riggs, and eventually a rescue operation becomes necessary.

A lot of buddy cop movies have come and gone, some completely becoming lost in the sands of time. But “Lethal Weapon” lingers on, and a lot of that is thanks to the chemistry created between actors Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Gibson is especially fun as Riggs. Even as we sympathize with this man’s broken heart and broken spirit, we can’t help waiting to see what kind of stunt he’ll pull next. Only Mel Gibson could have out-crazied Gary Busey. Certainly, with all of Riggs’ shenanigans, the movie could have easily been allowed to slip into farce territory. That’s where Murtagh, who provides the necessary stability to the story, comes in. He may have reached his sixth decade, but Roger’s no wimp either. You know the moment he points his gun and cranes his neck that shit’s about to get real.

As much as what goes on in front of the camera is entertaining, none of it would have the same impact without the personnel behind the lens. There is of course director Richard Donner, who also helmed 1978’s “Superman.” Providing the excellent screenplay is “Iron Man 3” director Shane Black. The beautiful soundtrack, which at times echoes the emotions of its characters just as easily as their appearance does, is provided by Michael Kamen and the one and only Eric Clapton, a true rock n’ roll god if ever there was one. Only one guitar in the world sounds like Clapton’s. Speaking of Michael Kamen, he would go on to do the soundtrack for “Die Hard,” another of the 80’s classic action fiicks. “Lethal Weapon” and “Die Hard” also share in common several secondary actors, most of whom are used as henchmen for the bad guys in both movies.

I can’t speak as to what age is too young to see a movie of this kind (and, to be frank, I think that’s a decision left up to the individual), as it is most definitely a violent movie. That’s insignificant next to it’s status as a pure adrenaline rush, which is exactly what any great action movie is designed to be. There are few films of their kind which carry with them the replay value of a “Lethal Weapon.” No matter how many times I’ve seen it, the partnership of Riggs and Murtagh always feels fresh. This shit’s never going to get too old.