Lethal Weapon 1987 by AverageMansReviews

Lethal Weapon 1987 by AverageMansReviews

Review Time

Warning: there is flashing effects/colourful effects/shooting/torture/electrocution/suicide/drugs/vehicle crash/vehicle hit/self harm/drowning/medical/reference to cancer

It's your 50th Birthday and surprise you are getting a new partner: it is Sergeant Roger Murtaugh [Danny Glover:] he is an former US Soldier that went to war in Vietnam turned LAPD Officer/now the rank of Sergeant, he has a busy household with his family and motorised boat, Oh and it's his birthday. Meanwhile Sergeant Martin Riggs [Mel Gibson:] likewise he has done his time serving his country in Vietnam, but he is Former Special Forces turned now LAPD Officer/now the rank of Sergeant, but sadly he is mentally unstable after death of his wife, he has a dog, but Sergeant Riggs is really struggling to want to stay on planet Earth; but they have a case to solve.

Generally speaking: the framework and pacing of this 112 minute film is excellent as the storyline/script is of the old school variety; meaning the script is fundamentally sound, so you can put other things on top and give them space to grow and develop is then also move things on when it is time to do so.

Art, comedy and action; it is a neat and tidy, well presented film at every stage of this instalment; Sergeant Riggs is on this drug bust, as he tries to buy the equivalent of $100,000 of drugs for $100, hay he got confused; at some point you does is excellent impersonation of Curly Howard from The Three Stooges with her arms being used or  Sergeant Riggs trying to defuse this intense situation, but after trying for a little time jumping off it building whilst handcuffed to the suspect or having to shoot another suspect for a good reason, basically Sergeant Riggs doesn't have a good record with suspects in this film.

Character developments and performances; sadly this film was released in 1987 and as of this content being first created in 2025; it seems like we are still not ready to even acknowledge male mental health, even on a personal level on my own life experience, women that I have spoken about this to believe it to be either not real or you should be a real man and deal with it and/or suck it up. But this film shows that as it relates to Sergeant Riggs and Sergeant Murtaugh and/or the Murtaugh family you can get a real sense of Sergeant Riggs being grounded and consequently adopted Murtaugh's, so Sergeant Riggs will see his wife again, but just not yet and of course on top of this you have this multi-cultural aspect to things as well; so all of these performances from the entire cast are smooth watching, with a casual approach [depending where you are in the film,] but also in-depth and not ignorant to the fact of mental health or/and multi-cultural, in fact they do something really smart and show how it should be dealt with, without actually saying a word about it, they just get on and see people as equals, for myself this is what I try to do, but also I am very much aware sometimes it is either hard work or it just isn't going to work for whatever reason as well, so this cast of characters/performers should be very happy with what they have created here for many generations to enjoy and to show how things should be done.

This film receives: 10/10, this film is top-notch entertainment; it is a classic that you should see once, most definite once in a lifetime, I should just point out providing your family is of a age of 15 and up, it should be suitable for all the family. This film also has some awards accredited to its name such as 5 Winners that include but not limited to BMI Film & TV Awards 1988 BMI Film Music Award Eric Clapton Michael Kamen and 3 Nominees would also include but not limited to Academy Awards, USA 1988 Oscar Best Sound Les Fresholtz Rick Alexander (as Dick Alexander) Vern Poore Bill Nelson