"Lethal Weapon" Review: Buddy comedy stands the test of time

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It’s been nearly 40 years since Lethal Weapon burst into theaters with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as the two leading men. Directed by Richard Donner (Superman, The Goonies), the film launched a long-running series (3 sequels were ultimately released with a television adaptation arriving in 2016).

Judging from the strength of the first film, it’s easy to understand why this concept and this story has endured.

Although the film’s plot has some issues, the dynamics at the center of the story — and the partnership between the two leads — make this feature really stand out. Decades after its release, the connection between the partners continues to resonate.

Mel Gibson, who had appeared in three Mad Max films prior, stars here as police officer Martin Riggs. As the feature starts, Riggs is a desperate man, broken-hearted over the loss of his wife. Instead of commiserating at home all day (he only does that on off days), he keeps working and finds purpose as a cop although he always finds a way to step near (or completely off) the edge on duty. The department partners him up with Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a family man who tries to steer away from trouble.        

While Riggs is reckless and doesn’t care about going home at the end of the day, Murtaugh is cautious and loves returning to his family.

Gibson and Glover are great in the leading roles and their chemistry is remarkable. The former truly takes advantage of his character, bringing a frantic and spontaneous energy to his role while Glover captures the frustration of a man known for saying he’s too old for these shenanigans (using a more colorful phrase, of course).

The plot, which involves an investigation into a supposed suicide, is intriguing and there are a number of nice twists along the way. Gary Busey and Mitchell Ryan are great here as the villains behind the scenes. However, there are a few elements (including a fight scene in the third act) that strain credibility. It’s hard to believe that — surrounded by police — one of the antagonists would have the opportunity to duke it out in an elaborate fight with Riggs.

Despite some unbelievable moments, It's easy to see what this Donner film spawned such a huge legacy. The connection between the two leads raises the stakes so that a third-act standoff in the dessert feels believable. There’s an intensity when the heroes faces off against the villains and because a third-act desert standoff is so dramatic, there are real questions about what will transpire .

Partially because of the spontaneous intensity exuded by Riggs’ character, there’s an edge of the film that makes it really shine in the genre. There’s a feeling that anything can happen to these raw and vulnerable characters.     

It’s been decades since Lethal Weapon originally arrived in theaters. It’s intriguing now to see Gibson and Glover as fresh-faced youthful partners who are forced to work together despite their obvious differences. Even though these actors have changed and the world has changed, there’s something infinitely entertaining about watching this remarkable partnership take place in one of the standout buddy films of the last few decades.