“Guys like you don’t die on toilets.” —Martin Riggs
Today’s quick review: Lethal Weapon 2. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) of the LAPD stumble onto something big when they find $1 million in gold coins as part of a drug bust. With the help of Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), a money launderer turned police witness, they trace the coins to the South African consulate. But their investigation runs around when their chief suspect, Arjen Rudd (Joss Ackland), claims diplomatic immunity.
Lethal Weapon 2 is an action movie starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Lethal Weapon 2 dives straight into another case for Riggs and Murtaugh, this time pitting them against a gang of killers operating under the protection of a foreign consulate. The same strong fundamentals as the first film make it a fun watch with a good mix of comedy and action. At the same time, a new investigation and a new face in Joe Pesci keep the story feeling fresh.
Once again, the high point of the movie is the pairing of Riggs and Murtaugh. What began as an unwilling partnership in the first film has evolved into a fast friendship that goes beyond their duties as police officers. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover play off each other effortlessly, packing their scenes together with organic conversation and friendly ribbing. Their loyalty to one another is the core of the movie and what will appeal most to action fans.
Lethal Weapon 2 builds on this rock-solid foundation with a reasonably intricate plot and a generous serving of action. The movie isn’t afraid to go big with its stunts, opening with an elaborate car chase before moving on to helicopter battles, shootouts, bomb scares, and more. On the story side, Lethal Weapon 2 is standard fare for the action genre but executed with an unusual amount of care. Everything in the story fits together tightly by the end.
Lethal Weapon 2 is a great pick for anyone in the mood for high-octane action and simple, enjoyable fun. It does not offer anything above and beyond the staples of the action genre, but its likable characters and high execution quality make it just the kind of movie certain action fans will adore. Those who prefer sober crime dramas or gritty, realistic action will want to steer well clear. For more in the same vein, try the Bad Boys movies.
7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for the action genre at its purest.