“One of the best late 80s action movie.”

Dir: Richard Donner

Prod: Richard Donner, Joel Silver

Writ: Shane Black

Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Traci Wolfe, Steve Kahan, Darlene Love, Gary Busey, Tom Atkins

Lethal Weapon is a buddy cop action movie from Richard Donner, best known for directing movies such as Superman and The Omen, and it’s the first installment in the Lethal Weapon franchise. (Wow, what a filmography!) It stars Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Gary Busey. It’s about Martin Riggs (played by Mel Gibson), a hot-tempered, suicidal cop working with Roger Murtaugh (played by Danny Glover). They must work together to unearth a drug-smuggling operation led by a drug dealer (played by Gary Busey).

This movie is insane from start to finish. It has a great balance between action, comedy, and drama. I just love this movie so much. This isn’t the first buddy cop movie, but Lethal Weapon is a pioneer of the buddy cop action genre without it, there would be no Hot Fuzz, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Black Rain, or The Nice Guys.

Now let’s get started Lethal Weapon is actually a simple movie, but the execution is awesome. Richard Donner, man, he can make a simple action movie feel artsy without even trying. The directing and cinematography are top-notch, and the sniper scene in the desert? Oh my my. Yesterday I watched One Battle After Another, and the sniper scene in that really reminded me so much of the first Lethal Weapon, so that’s why I decided to review this movie. The city shootout is a jaw-dropping spectacle it’s insane how fun this movie is.

The dialogue by Shane Black is great it’s quippy, quotable, and memorable. Like “I’m too old for this shit” it is so memorable and always being parodied in movies, showing how influential the script is. The acting is top-notch. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover have great chemistry. Gary Busey as the villain while a little bit cartoonish for me but he is evil, menacing, crazy, psychopathic, and I love every second of it. And I love how the movie takes place at Christmas but still has that very Christmasy vibe.

As for the flaws maybe Gary Busey’s character is too cartoonish, and some of the shots don’t hold up by modern standards. Even on the Blu-ray, some scenes look kinda meh.

Overall, Lethal Weapon is a great ’80s action movie. It isn’t a classic, but it’s one of the most fun times I’ve had, and Richard Donner’s directing is awesome especially if you watch it after One Battle After Another. You can really feel the vibe, the action, and just how influential Lethal Weapon is in the action genre. The chemistry between Gibson and Glover is fun, the stakes are high, it has a real sense of danger I recommend you watch it just for fun but keep in mind not as flawless like The Nice Guys.

My Rating: A-