Mad Ramblings of a Movie Geek 04.09.09: The Lethal Weapon Breakdown

Posted by Jordan Bruns on 04.09.2009

My ramblings on one of the most successful action franchises ever...

Welcome to this week's Mad Ramblings of a Movie Geek! I've always taken pride in the fact that I tend to change up from week to week, trying new things and seeing what works and what doesn't. Some of my columns have hit and some have missed, that's just the way it goes. My writing style and choice of topics is not for everybody. One thing I have learned, though, is that if you offer a well-written column on a movie or movies that people like, people will read your stuff. That is the main goal of anyone who writes here at 411: acquiring an audience. This week I am returning to a formula that has worked in the past- discussing a popular movie franchise.

Since the much-rumored Lethal Weapon 5 seems to be off for good now, it's safe to say there will be no further installments (it's for the best, trust me). So now looks like as good a time as any to reflect back on one of the most popular action franchises of all time. This week, Mad Ramblings is proud to present The Lethal Weapon Breakdown…





My Mad Ramblings
The first Lethal Weapon took the "buddy movie" formula popularized by action/comedy yarns like 48 Hrs. and turned it on its side. It also made Mel Gibson, known mostly for the Mad Max movies, into a mega star. Here we have Gibson as the suicidal, borderline psychotic Martin Riggs teamed with Danny Glover's family man Roger Murtaugh, who just turned 50. Riggs and Murtaugh hate each other, but are forced to work together to investigate a murder linked to a heroin and prostitution ring. The victim just happens to be the daughter of one of Murtaugh's Vietnam buddies (it turns out the much-younger Riggs was in ‘Nam too)- and who is the main villain? Why, it's none other than perennial movie nutcase Gary Busey, as the ice cold Mr. Joshua, who just might be even crazier than Riggs. To be fair, Riggs wasn't always off his rocker. But ever since the death of his wife he's been longing to join her. Unfortunately for Murtaugh, Riggs seems hellbent on taking his new partner with him- not intentionally, he just doesn't care. Murtaugh realizes just how much of a loose cannon his new "friend" is in the famous sequence? when Riggs handcuffs himself to a potential jumper and proceeds to leap off of the building with him. The two eventually become friends though, and the movie ends with Riggs arriving at the Murtaugh household for Christmas dinner and, in his own little Riggs way, lets Murtaugh know that he no longer wishes to end it all.

Though the Lethal Weapon movies have become known for their unique blend of action and comedy, the original contains very little humor, outside of occasional banter between Riggs and Murtaugh. There was no Leo Getz, and "I'm too old for this shit" had yet to become a running gag. Instead we get a no holds barred, gritty, and violent 1980's action flick that's as frenetic and edgy as Riggs himself. As good as the first Lethal Weapon is, the best was yet to come.





My Mad Ramblings
This is the best Lethal Weapon movie, hands down. Even those who don't agree have to admit that it's at least the best of the sequels. It takes the stories, and the characters, in a whole new direction. This is the movie that introduces Joe Pesci as Leo Getz. Whatever you need… Leo gets. Leo is a good comic foil for Riggs and Murtaugh, and you can bet if they weren't cops, and they weren't assigned to protect this government witness, they'd kill him themselves because he's so damn annoying, especially when you go through a drive thru with him. This time around, Riggs and Murtaugh take on a band of South African arms dealers, but unbeknownst to them, their hands are tied, as these criminals are protected by diplomatic immunity.

What is it about Lethal Weapon 2 that makes it better than the original? For one thing, the relationship between Riggs and Murtaugh has strengthened since the first one. Now that their dynamic has been established they have a chance to just roll with it this time around. They genuinely love and respect each other but still bicker like an old married couple. The infamous "bomb on the toilet" sequence is a very telling scene between the two of them. In one life or death moment, they make it clear just how they feel about each other without actually saying anything. This scene is a dramatic relief from all the surrounding banter and carnage. Another thing that makes this Lethal Weapon superior to its predecessor is the added dilemma of dealing with criminals who are more or less above the law. Plus, Lethal Weapon 2 is so much darker than the first. Here the battle becomes personal as Murtaugh's family is threatened and forced to go into hiding, quite a few cops die, Riggs' new love interest is murdered by our not so friendly South African "diplomats", and Riggs discovers the truth about his wife's death. As one of the villains says to him, "You don't have much luck with women, do you Riggs?" Damn, that's cold…

This is the movie that begins to implement many of the Lethal Weapon clichés, including Murtaugh's continued feelings about being "too old for this shit," Leo's famous diatribes ("They fuck at the/with the…"), and the never-ending plot thread of Riggs having to dislocate his shoulder to get out of a sticky predicament. Of course, none of this was ever supposed to be the set up for a franchise, as in the original script Riggs dies at the end. Alas, in the final film, his multiple bullet wounds conveniently miss all vital organs and he lives to fight (and smoke) another day…





My Mad Ramblings
The third trip to the well focuses more on the humor than the action, largely because screenwriter Shane Black had left the series, and also because it was now the ‘90's and the action movie dynamic had shifted a bit. And probably also because the humor, in particular the comedic exchanges between Riggs and Murtaugh, is what the made the characters and the films so popular in the first place. In Lethal Weapon 3, Murtaugh is one week from retirement and ready to live the good life. But first, he and Riggs must deal with a former cop who is selling guns to street gangs, an Internal Affairs investigation, and the increasingly annoying Leo Getz, who is now a realtor trying to sell Murtaugh's house. Rene Russo makes her debut as Lorna Cole, sent by IA to investigate the very police corruption that Riggs and Murtaugh are eager to sink their teeth into. She initially clashes with Riggs, but before long sparks begin to fly. Meanwhile, Murtaugh undergoes a personal crisis when he kills a gang member in self-defense, who happens to be a friend of his son. This makes Riggs and Murtaugh even more determined to bring down the people who are putting guns in the hands of kids.

Lethal Weapon 3 is not as sharp as the first two, but it's not forgettable either. It's got some really good moments- as usual, the best are between Riggs and Murtaugh, in particular the scene where Riggs confronts a drunken Murtaugh on his boat, angry at him for both his impending retirement and for the self-loathing he feels after killing his son's friend. It's good to see Riggs improve his luck with women for a chance, and of course you can never go wrong with a little Joe Pesci. Lethal Weapon 3 is one of only a few instances where the third movie was not a franchise killer.





My Mad Ramblings
It took six years for this one to get made, and it shows. Mel Gibson didn't even sport his trademark Riggs hair this time around, and there was another addition to the cast: Chris Rock as up-and-coming young cop Lee Butters, who is secretly married to Murtaugh's daughter. Russo and Pesci are back, and this time the main villain is played by Jet Li. Riggs and Murtaugh are both too old now, and it shows as they are constantly enlisting the aid of Butters, whom Murtaugh suspects is a closeted homosexual because he's as yet unaware why the strange young detective is constantly showering him with so much praise. The plot this time deals with a Chinese Triad gang, and the subplots include both Riggs and Murtaugh facing new additions to their families, as well as Riggs pondering whether or not to marry Lorna.

For the most part Riggs and Murtaugh are Riggs and Murtaugh, though Riggs doesn't look like himself with short hair (come on, Mel, wear a wig at least). Now Leo Getz is a PI (wtf?) and Chris Rock is just being Chris Rock, except he gets to carry a badge and arrest people. Lethal Weapon 4 is a prime example of taking an aging franchise and trying to dust it off, and the series was showing its age by this point. There's a lot going on, and whenever there's a slow point in the plot, there's an explosion or chase scene just around the corner. Although Lethal Weapon 4 is not a bad movie and still a decent follow-up, it's also evidence that enough is enough. Gibson, Glover, and Richard Donner all seem to have come on board simply to give the characters one last hurrah. They got a pretty good send off, but in the off chance that a Lethal Weapon 5 does get made, I might find myself staying away.

Well, those are my ramblings on the Lethal Weapon franchises. What do you, the readers, think? Was 2 really better than the first one? Was I too harsh on 4? Not harsh enough? Feel free to comment or email me and tell me your thoughts.

Until next time…