“I’m too old for this sh*t” – JOE looks at why Lethal Weapon will always be a favourite
Back before Mel Gibson lost the plot and went all ranty, he was quite an entertaining actor. The 80’s was his heyday, and Lethal Weapon was his golden ticket. Yes he had Mad Max, but it wasn’t until he was paired up with Danny Glover in 1987’s Lethal Weapon that his stardom really took off.
Lethal Weapon is one of the best buddy movies – along with Beverly Hills Cop and Tango and Cash. The movie sees the usual mismatched cops story – two very different detectives are partnered up against their wishes but through the case they become closer and form a respect for each other.
However, Lethal Weapon takes it a step further, because the cops not only don’t want to be partnered up with each other, but they don’t want a partner at all. Cue jovial banter.
Add to the equation that Riggs (Gibson) is suicidal and Murtaugh (Glover) just wants to retire (for well over a decade), and you’ve got a movie bubbling over with creative banter scenes. The Lethal Weapon franchise spawned four movies dating from 1987 to1998, and although it’s a difficult choice, we think the original is the best.
It has all the ingredients for a classic buddy cop movie – one liners and banter, action and violence, and your buddy having your back when things get rough. Gibson plays loose cannon Martin Riggs, recently bereaved of his wife and the proprietor of a death wish, thus making him reckless and somewhat of a loose cannon. Glover plays old timer Roger Murtaugh, a grumpy fecker wanting to take things easy for his last few cases before he turns 50.
The original Lethal Weapon shows a wild and comically erratic Riggs, which those who’ve only seen the later movies would find hard to imagine, as the first Shane Black (Iron Man 3) scripted flick is actually quite edgy.
It’s the chemistry on screen with Gibson and Glover, and a snappy script that keeps on giving, that sets this movie apart from other buddy cop action movies. It went on to inspire films like Bad Boys, Men in Black, The Other Guys and countless more. Leathal Weapon is an institution, and one that should be watched at least once a year.
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