“If this was Hong Kong, you’d already be dead.” —Wah Sing Ku
Today’s quick review: Lethal Weapon 4. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) of the LAPD are entering a new stage of their lives. Riggs and his girlfriend Lorna Cole (Rene Russo) are expecting their first child, while Murtaugh is about to beocme a grandfather. But the partners are distracted from their domestic affairs when they uncover a human trafficking ring, making an enemy of Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li), a merciless Chinese gangster.
Lethal Weapon 4 is an action movie and the final entry in the Lethal Weapon series. Riggs and Murtaugh return for one more case, this time trying to unravel the mystery behind a freighter full of illegal immigrants. Lethal Weapon 4 takes to new extremes the explosive stunts and colorful characters the series is known for. However, in doing so, it upsets the careful tonal balance the series depends on, leading to a shakier watch than before.
Lethal Weapon 4 has a slightly different tone than its predecessors. Riggs is beginning to show his age, slowing down physically and losing some of his manic edge. The emphasis on his limitations fits oddly with the movie’s decision to ramp up the action even further. Catastrophic chases, hand-to-hand combat, and a few gratuitous explosions give the movie more than its quota of action, but with the caveat that a lot of the new setups feel contrived.
As a result, Lethal Weapon 4 gets caught between trying to be more of an action movie and trying to be less of one. The pieces work well individually, but they don’t fit together as tightly as one would hope. The same is true for the story. Lethal Weapon 4 hits most of the beats it needs to and builds to a high-stakes finale, but it feels like it skips a few steps along the way. As such, the dramatic moments don’t have the impact they should have.
But in spite of these rough patches, Lethal Weapon 4 makes for a fun action movie and a fitting sendoff for the series. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are still a great pair, series veteran Joe Pesci and newcomer Chris Rock give the movie some easy sources of comedy, and Jet Li comes across as a genuinely intimidating villain. The movie’s assorted strengths are enough to make it a worthwhile pick for action fans and fans of the series.
Give Lethal Weapon 4 a shot if you’re in the mood for big stunts and some decent humor. The movie won’t have much to offer fans who prefer gritty action and believable stories, but those willing to indulge in some outrageous situations will have a good time. For another buddy cop comedy about a Chinese crime ring operating in Los Angeles, try Rush Hour. For an action movie about two police officers nearing retirement, try Bad Boys for Life.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for enjoyable action with a few rough edges.