I had the opportunity today to see the long awaited Lethal Weapon 4, being this it's release date. Let me first mention that I am a very big fan of this classic action series. The series has changed since it was first established. It has gone from a hard edged action drama to a more comedic style adventure series. To some this is bad news, to some this is good news. I personally enjoy the entire series. Lethal Weapon 4 is similar in essence to Lethal Weapon 3. It is a highly charged action adventure/comedy drama.
The plot begins simple but throws many curves. Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtagh (Danny Glover) are fishing with Leo (Joe Pesci) in Murtagh's boat. Leo catches a shark and is trying to determine what to do with it. Suddenly a massive tanker appears and begins firing on our heroes. They discover the boat is full of illegal Chinese immigrants sold into slave labor. A family takes refuge in Murtagh's boat and Murtagh takes them into his home. They are soon begin an investigation which leads them to a triad boss played by Jet Li. I don't want to reveal more of the plot so all I will say is this ends up in the usual bang- bang method with some subplots thrown in involving Lorna (Rene Russo), Riggs's girlfriend being pregnant with Riggs's baby and Murtagh's daughter being pregnant by Chris Rock. Riggs's also confronts feelings of marriage and his dead wife. The first hour of the movie is basically a comedy, and the second hour is non stop action with some dramatic moments thrown in.
I thought the movie was fun and exciting, and that it raised interesting questions about our two middle-aged heroes getting older. The sole fault in this movie is it's sappy ending that seems to belong on Family Matters. Joe Pesci even has a monologue about his pet frog (named froggy) that he had as a child. Besides that the movie is riveting and the final incredible shootout and fight in the factory must be seen to be believed. Jet Li easily steals the picture as the villain. His martial arts powers are amazing. In the final fight you even may find yourselves thinking our heroes are done for!
9.5/10 (It would be 10 if it weren't for the aforementioned sappy ending)
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