Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

7/10

Starring

Mel Gibson

Danny Glover

Joe Pesci

Directed by Richard Donner

Lethal Weapon 1 sparked the love for the duo, but Lethal Weapon 2 defined it, making it certain that everyone would queue up to see Lethal Weapon 3. This time, the dynamic duo takes on South Africans, and we get a tie-in with how Riggs’ wife died, adding depth to the subplot. The score, as usual, was efficient—perfect, really. The jazz vibe enhances the fun and elevates the film's atmosphere.

Released two years after the first movie, this action-comedy sees Danny Glover and Mel Gibson reprising their roles as Murtaugh and Riggs. The plot is insightful, and the lines are timely. The introduction of Joe Pesci (Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in Goodfellas (1990)) was the perfect addition. Pesci brought plenty of laughs and played a more prominent role in this film than in the subsequent two.

The plot revolves around Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) going up against a South African diplomat who uses his immunity to carry out criminal activities. Along the way, they meet Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), who has also crossed paths with the South Africans.

The movie is intense, with both sides finding themselves in tight corners. This time, Riggs faces a personal attack on his home. From my perspective, this is the most brutal of the four films, with several police officers from the first movie being killed off.

The movie was a critical success and holds the highest approval rating among all four films. It was also a commercial hit. Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Richard Donner have all stated that this is their favorite installment of the Lethal Weapon series. Riggs dislocates his shoulder twice in this film—a gag that later became a recurring element in the series.

After this movie, Richard Donner—who also directed the first—went on to make two more, with Leo Getz remaining part of the cast in both.

Word is out that Lethal Weapon 5 is in the works, with two new leads set to take on the roles of Roger and Martin. I just hope they can live up to the high standard set by this iconic duo. The chemistry, action, and humor in this film are tough acts to follow, but here’s hoping the new team can capture that same magic. It’s a tall order, but fans are rooting for them to pull it off and keep the spirit of the original series alive.