Lethal Weapon (1987)

 Lethal Weapon (1987)

Lethal Weapon is often considered to be one of the greatest buddy cop films of all time. It is an assessment I would not disagree with. It spawned three legitimate sequels and a decent television reboot. Some say Beverly Hills Cop started this type of movie, but most agree that this hardwired action extravaganza began the boom of action-packed cop films that dominated the 1980’s and the 1990’s. This film is absolutely bonkers…in a good way. Director Richard Donner sends one action sequence after another and he does not dare step on the brakes. That could have been boring, yet Donner made us care about the two polar opposite characters; homebody Roger Murtagh and wild Martin Riggs. The chemistry between the two characters is unlike anything you would ever see. The comedy and even the action work because of this duo.

The idea of this movie was generated from Shane Black. A recent college graduate, Black wanted to create a “modern Western” and was inspired by films like Dirty Harry. His original script was dark and had enormous action sequences such as the Hollywood sign being covered in cocaine (now that would be a fun sequence)! Donner loved the script, but he toned down the script because it was too dark. The final script is excellent, and it features some very juicy, memorable lines of dialogue. This is where Shane Black became a name in Hollywood. As for Donner, he did a great job going all out making an R-rated film. It’s no Superman or The Goonies. He invested lots of time and energy to make sure this film would be about its characters and not about the big, bad action sequences. Although one will admit it is nice to see our heroes and antagonists wreak havoc in Southern California.

Roger Murtagh (Danny Glover) is turning 50 years old. He is a family man and is deeply emotional about his new age. He is assigned a new partner, the younger and crazier Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Riggs has been suicidal since his girlfriend perished in a car crash several years before, which allows him the benefit of being reckless in these big fights. Their first case together is to investigate the death of Amanda Hunsaker, a prostitute and daughter of Murtagh’s banker friend. Upon investigation, they realize that the young woman was murdered. The investigation allows the two men to be targets of the Shadow Company, a group of former Vietnam War mercenaries that distribute cocaine in Southern California. General Peter McAllister (Mitchell Ryan) and his head honcho Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey) wants them both dead.

This is putting it mildly, but the acting blows everything up (literally and figuratively). The chemistry between Glover and Gibson goes unmatched when compared to action films of the past, present, and probably future. Glover, coming off success in The Color Purple, loved the idea of being a family-first man and then has his world come undone with the introduction of Riggs in his life. Gibson becomes unhinged, but you can understand the position he is in. His wildness attracts the ladies (such as Murtagh’s teenage daughter), but his emotional state is horrid. There is a scene where he tries to stop someone from killing himself, and that scene hits home. This movie revitalized Gary Busey’s career and he had to audition for the role of Mr. Joshua. He was a terrifying villain. He is an intimidating man with the propensity for some disgusting electric torture.

In terms of the action, the filmmakers wanted to go big. They hurled action scenes at you from the starting line. If you can imagine it, it is probably there. Big sequences with helicopters and machine guns, the aforementioned electric torture, trying to rescue Murtagh’s kidnapped daughter, and the list goes on and on. Most importantly, the action was not boring because of the characters. The music, composed by Michael Kamen, also plays an important role. If you did not know, Eric Clapton is the one playing the electric guitar.

Overall, Lethal Weapon is so much fun to watch. It definitely has moments that are deep, but Donner/Black made sure it did not take itself too seriously. The lines each character at certain points made me crack up. I do love when Glover repeatedly mentions, “I’m too old for this ….” The action is believable even when it plays for borderline insanity. Be prepared for a wild ride because it is heart-pounding, relentless, and will allow for an amazing time! Danny Glover and Mel Gibson made for an excellent, unforgettable pairing.

My Grade: A-