tindfoting

It takes approx 20 minutes before the story kicks in. And when you play the movies back-to-back, you notice one thing; the story build-up is almost exactly the same as in Lethal Weapon 2. But this time, everyone is FUNNY. Leo Getz are unleashed on us, while Donner has decided that Riggs should have oneliners in every scene, while Murtaugh scrambles by with "Riggs, you crazy sonofabitch" at least 10 times. Luckily, we are introdused to the asskicking Lorna Cole, played by no nonsense Rene Russo, who keeps the craziness somewhat under the lid, holding the wacky boys from going to the Apollo with they're standup material. The movie is far from bad, but the tone is like a rollercoaster, with so many stupid oneliners in the middle of action scenes. On the flipside, the action sequenses are the real deal, and dangerous as hell.

I have my big reservations regarding Lethal 3 & specially 4, which took the franchise from actionthrillers to... action oneliners. In particular Leo Getz, played like a cartoon character by Joe Pesci. Luckily, his trademark "ok-ok-ok" was kept more or less under a lid on in Lethal 2, so the real stars, Glover and Gibson, could shine. It's looser in tone than the first movie, were Riggs has found his 'second family' with the Murtaughs. It's bigger, funnier & the story is tighter and more intriguing, this time written all the way by Shane Black (he only wrote the character arcs in Lethal 1). One specially remembers the encounters between Riggs, Murtaugh and the new bad boys, rascists South African diplomats. Both Glover and Gibson gets to shine with scenes against the South Africans. The only thing that stands out like a sour thumb is Patsy Kensit as Riggs new girlfriend. Kensit is simply put a poor and boring actress, specially when you see Rene Russo in Lethal Weapon 3.

There was buddy movies before Lethal, like the underrated gem Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, but this kickstarted a typhoon of copycats. Made with a very modest budget, Lethal 1 was a very grim and real movie compared to the 3 sequels. Groundbreakingly focusing on suicidal tendensies, seen trough Riggs, a manic, depressed cop, who is a menace to himself and everyone else. The big reason Lethal 1 became a classic isnt the story, but the chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. The latter creating intense situations, tormenting the former. Too often Gibson gets the credit for Lethal Weapon's success, but it's a team effort. Glover grounds it in reallity, giving us a normal family man to keep Gibsons gung-ho somewhat in check. Not to mention Richard Donner, who used all his tricks to get the best out of a tiny budget. They don't make em like that anymore. Litterarly... they would be sued for some of the crazy stunts.