Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Gary Busey in the Richard Donner movie ‘Lethal Weapon’

It’s not every day that an action and thriller movie is set against the backdrop of a holiday. It has become more common to see moves themed as romances or romantic comedies set against Christmas. The Richard Donner directed Lethal Weapon (1987) managed to mix the action thriller against a Christmas in the households of the characters that inhabit the movie’s universe. Today, we look into the happenings of Los Angeles policemen, one celebrating a birthday while the other recently lost his wife.

(From left, Blackie Dammett as Drug Dealer #3 and Mel Gibson as Sergeant Martin Riggs in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

Mel Gibson portrays Sergeant Martin Riggs of the narcotics division of the police, who we meet in a borderline suicidal anxiety in his home. The audience sees Riggs in the depth of his feelings while looking at a framed picture of his wife with what presumably is his service firearm. Captain Ed Murphy and Dr. Stephanie Woods as a mental health practitioner argue over whether Riggs is in a proper condition to serve. Riggs is given a new partner in the face of this. Steve Kahan and Mary Ellen Trainor portrayed Captain Murphy and Dr. Woods, respectively.

(From left, Traci Wolfe as Rianne Murtaugh and Danny Glover as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

Sergeant Roger Murtaugh, as portrayed by Danny Glover, is introduced amongst his family on his birthday. Murtaugh’s kids surprise him as he soaks in the family bathtub with a birthday cake, which simultaneously embarrasses the father while showing him to be the consummate family man. By the next day, Murtaugh and Riggs are partners with experience in the Vietnam War and special forces of the military.

(From left, Mitchell Ryan as General Peter McAllister and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

The past military lives of Murtaugh and Riggs come to relevance without discreet attempts by either man to specifically seek it out. This and other coincidences conspire when the daughter of Michael Hunsaker, a friend Murtaugh knew from the men’s time serving in Vietnam, dies in Los Angeles. Hunsaker had called Murtaugh just before Hunsaker’s daughter had suffered a death that seemingly had something to do with her life in an unsavory world. The possibility of there being more to this isn’t revealed until after Murtaugh and Riggs dig into their own professional relationship. Tom Atkins portrayed Michael Hunsaker.

(From left, Danny Glover as Sergeant Roger Murtaugh and Mel Gibson as Sergeant Martin Riggs in the Richard Donner movie Lethal Weapon).

The plot thickens with the introduction of Mitchell Ryan as General Peter McAllister and Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua. A criminal enterprise brings a genuine edge to the law enforcement perspective of the story that pairs with stylized comedic turns involving Riggs, Murtaugh, their relationship and the history both bring to their initial pairing as partners.

(From left, director Richard Donner and actor Mel Gibson on the set of the Richard Donner movie, Lethal Weapon).

The pace of Lethal Weapon works to a positive effect in setting a comprehensible story that feels entertaining. I found myself engaged and giggling at some of the silly humor while rooting for things to end well for both sergeants. The full impact of Lethal Weapon as directed by Richard Donner leads me to grant the movie 4.25-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, December 22, 2021