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Lethal Weapon

Starring: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover
Director: Richard Donner
Genre: Action
Year: 1987
Rating: 4 / 5

"I'm too old for this shit." Is there any film fan out there who cannot identify the origin of this line? Danny Glover first uttered this oft-repeated phrase thirteen years ago, the year Lethal Weapon first hit theatres. Eleven years later, with the release of Lethal Weapon 4, Glover and co-star Mel Gibson were still marching onward. It all began in 1987, though, when Gibson's psychotic Martin Riggs was first introduced to Glover's straight-laced Roger Murtaugh. The rest, as they say, is history, as this dynamic duo has come to represent the ideal "buddy film" combination.

Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) is an undercover cop with the death wish, a fact which is made clear to the audience from the opening sequences. In the midst of a drug bust, Riggs finds himself held at gunpoint by the lone survivor of a shooting spree. Rather than trying to calm the man down, Riggs implores the other police officers on the scene to shoot the perpetrator. Riggs eventually disarms the man, leaving his comrades shaking their heads in disbelief. Later that night, we see that Riggs' actions are not an act, as suicide is a situation he confronts nightly. His mental stability is seriously in question, a fact his new partner is about to realize.

Sparks fly when Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) first meets Riggs, and it sets the tone for their entire relationship. Riggs, dressed in undercover gear, is examining his gun while inside the local police station. Murtaugh, seeing a free firearm, yells, "Gun!" and sprints towards Riggs. Riggs, dumbfounded, franticly looks for an armed assailant, only to realize that Murtaugh is actually charging at him. Gentlemen, meet your new partner. After that, the duo is off and running, hot on the trail of a heroin-smuggling operation. Yet when drug mercenary Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey) threatens the lives of Murtaugh's family, things get very personal.

Director Richard Donner discovered a winning team when he paired Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon, a film that has spawned three sequels. Any "buddy film" since has invariably been compared to this, from subpar films like Tango & Cash to triumphant efforts like Bad Boys. No matter what else he may do, Martin Riggs is the quintessential Mel Gibson role. Making four films as the character might have something to do with that, but his manic cop is funny, tough, and incredible likeable. Danny Glover may not be the star Mel Gibson is, but this film allows him to shine, as he portrays a family man who lays it all on the line. Danny Glover and Mel Gibson may be getting "too old for this shit," but their fans will never tire of quality films like the Lethal Weapon series.

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for violence and brief nudity.
Running Time: 112 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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