The basic story involves two buddy cops, Martin
Riggs and Rodger Murtaugh, trying to crack an illegal drug to
money to arms ring in Los Angeles. In addition, they're trying
to keep an annoying crime witness alive.
The exciting, and funny, story by Shane Black
and Warren Murphy, screenplay by Jeffrey Boam, is a continuation
of the trials and tribulations of Martin Riggs and Rodger Murtaugh,
the characters we were introduced to in 'Lethal Weapon 1.' This
dynamic duo is still working in the drug unit. Many from the original
cast also came back in this film, which gives continuity to this
second installment.
Though parts of the plot were farfetched, the
overall story was very entertaining, and exciting. The story has
more balance between action, drama, and humorous moments, than
Lethal Weapon 1. Up until the last 25 minutes or so, the balance
was more on the mark. However, this film is a 4 star film, not
a 5 star though, because we felt perhaps the balance needed to
be tweaked more concerning the ending. Many felt that Riggs' new
found love, Rika, didn't need to be so cruelly killed, and the
way Riggs found her was a bit too much as well. This incident,
along with the fact that most of the cops in their drug unit were
hunted down and killed with bombs, unhinges Riggs, which results
in the over the top ending, which perhaps needed another rewrite.
The ending of the film was overdone; being too long, too violent
and too gruesome, and perhaps even bordering on being exploitive.
Mel Gibson excels in the role of Riggs, the cop,
who passionately "does the job." He's less disturbed
and considerably funnier this time, due to his involvement with
Rodger, Rodger's wife, Trish (Darlene Love), and their 3 children.
Danny Glover, as family- man cop, Murtaugh, one again makes his
more conservative cop interesting and unpredictable.
The humor in this film ads fun to the story,
and ads insight to the characters. One humorous bit starts at
police headquarters, when Riggs enthusiastically announces to
fellow officers that Murtaugh's eldest daughter, Reanne (Traci
Wolfe), could be seen in a commercial that very evening! Murtaugh's
comment, as he talks softly to his daughter's picture on his desk:
"With this crowd, honey, you better not stink!" At the
Murtaugh household, the entire family, plus Riggs, plus the hired
carpenter, sit around the T.V. to watch this exciting event, eager
to record it, so "they can watch it over and over again."
It turns out to be a condom ad, much to Rodger's disgust and dismay.
"You know that cops never let up, never stop; there will
be rubbers in the coffee...." Riggs retorts, " Rodger
you should give the boys a chance, you know; in one rubber, out
the other"... True to form, there are rubber gags to bring
comic relief after a tense moment later on in the plot.
Another semi-humorous/ dramatic/ action moment
is when Riggs goes to Murtaugh's house, with Leo in tow, in search
of his missing partner, and finds him stuck on his toilet because
of a bomb attached to it.
Joe Pesci, is terrific as the annoying protected
crime witness, Leo Getz, and adds a third element to the mix.
Riggs and Murtaugh are assigned to protect Leo; being a material
witness against the drug dealers, as he laundered their drug money.
1) A great action scene happens when Riggs and Murtaugh first
go to Leo's hotel room, to start what they think is baby sitting
detail. After just a short while, the bad guy comes, disguised
as a waiter to try to kill Leo. Riggs, Leo and the bad guy wind
up falling out of the window and landing in the pool below. Murtaugh
wisely takes the stairs.
The three of them, Riggs, Murtaugh, and Getz,
have fun causing mischief at the South African Embassy. Murtaugh
and Getz cause a fun diversion, while Riggs slips into Rudd's
office to find some important plot clues. Riggs winds up giving
Rudd and his gang a rather verbally salty ultimatum, any marine
/ sailor would be proud of, and then shoots the large fish tank,
causing havoc and mayhem, as fish and water fly and roll everywhere.
There are other many well-done action scenes.
1) The opening car chase is very well done.
In Trish's, brand new station wagon, Riggs and Murtaugh have
a wild ride through the streets of Los Angeles, around LAX and
surrounding area, with bits of humor and banter thrown in for
fun. Trish's new car doesn't fair so well, but some important
clues are found at the end of the chase.
2) Based on the information Riggs and Murtaugh
were able to pump out of Leo, who is a wealth of information,
the three of them find the main drug house headquarters, and
an exciting chase ensues.
3) Yet another favorite action scene is a nighttime,
helicopter assault on Riggs's trailer home, while romantically
entertaining Rika Van Den Haas, his love interest, who is the
head bad guy's secretary. The scene is exciting, fast paced,
and explosive.
Patsy Kensit, as Rika Van Den Haas, adds much
to the film. In addition to being pretty, she brings a strong
presence and tart tongue to the proceedings. She plays the shy,
honest, sweet type, not a hollywood bimbette. Her semi-nude love
scene with Gibson generates screen heat. Their romantic romp is
tastefully done, but the viewers are treated to discreet shots
of Patsy's breasts & willowy form and Mel's fine behind!!
(There must have been something in Riggs' chili)
The Dastardly bad guys do a great job being evil
and nasty, as villains are supposed to be, especially in action
yarns. Well-known and accomplished stage veteran, Joss Ackland,
plays the head South African diplomat, Arjen "Aryan"
Rudd, who is behind the drugs to money to gold cougaran for guns
operation. His sadistic, bomb loving henchman with a twisted sense
of humor, Pieter "Adolph" Vorstedt, was expertly played
by Derrick O'Conner, who gave a convincingly chilling performance.
This film is fine entertainment for the over
17 crowd and adult audiences, who like this kind of film genre.
Children and sensitive people shouldn't watch it because of the
exploitive, violent ending, scary scenarios, vile bad guys, salty
language, not to mention the breast and behind issue, which happened
on their first date. Where's their self-control? Yikes!!
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