Warner Brothers presents a Silver Pictures production in association with Donner/Schuler-Donner Productions Mel Gibson Danny Glover a Richard Donner film "LETHAL WEAPON 4" Joe Pesci Rene Russo Chris Rock Jet Li Steve Kahan Kim Chan Darlene Love Co-Producers: Dan Cracchiolo & J. Mills Goodloe Edited by Dallas Puett & Frank J. Urioste Cinematographer: Andrzej Bartkowiak Original Music by Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen & David Sanborn Production Designer: J. Michael Riva Costume Designer: Ha Nguyen Associate Producers: Spencer Franklin, Jennifer Gwartz & Ilyse A. Reutlinger Executive Producers: Steve Perry & Jim Van Wyck Produced by Richard Donner & Joel Silver Original Story by Johnathan Lemkin Screenplay by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Channing Gibson and Shane Black Directed by Richard Donner Rated R Running time: 127 minutes
Sequels are not usually a promising commodity. In most cases it's an exercise in excess. More action, more violence, more noise, etc. etc. What is hoped for in these franchises is that you have something to connect with. And hopefully that is the characters that made the original film so enjoyable. With the release of Richard Donner's fourth and final entry in the LETHAL WEAPON series we are given a serviceable plot with more character interaction than any of the previous films in the series.
The story opens with our heroic trio Riggs, Murtaugh and Leo Getz enjoying a late night out on Roger's finished boat. Unfortunately they run afoul of an uncharted cargo ship which wrecks their fishing boat. Giving chase, they crash the ship onto the docks. Riggs suffers a surprise attack by an asian martial artist (James Lew), and is unable to catch any of the bad guys. Murtaugh and Getz manage to save themselves and soon the three discover that the cargo ships hold is filled with illegal aliens from China. After the police arrive, Murtaugh discovers a family of Chinese hiding in one of the row boats. Feeling a sense of familial responsibility, Murtaugh takes the family (against proper procedure) under his wing, giving them sanctuary in his own home.
It is soon learned that there is an underground market for slave labor from China in L.A. A custom of paying a debt through labor. But there is more to this incident than that. As Murtaugh and Riggs investigate the situation further they find more evidence leading to the purchase of four Triad leaders from mainland China. But there is even more subterfuge involved. The cost of rescuing these four criminals is millions of dollars in Chinese currency. What the Triads have done is hired through debt, a Chinese artist to counterfeit Chinese currency. These plates are to be used to print the money with which the Triads are to pay the corrupt Chinese officials. The debt being paid is the delivery of his Brother's family to America.
"Lethal Weapon 4" is a wonderfully entertaining continuation of the popular franchise. While the plot is a little light in development, it holds your attention. What makes this film so enjoyable is, of coarse the chemistry between Gibson and Glover. The friendship between these two characters has moved beyond the standard homo-erotic essence of the earliest films. These men are now family, brothers of spirit. Riggs in the film plays with a zen like philosophy of mental will power. He is coming to terms with his mortality. This is amplified by the pregnancy of Larna Cole (Rene Russo). Riggs must lay down his loss and his mania, if he is to survive. And it is this act of conformity that almost costs him his life. As in the earlier sequels, Riggs is becoming less of a lethal weapon, while Murtaugh is becoming more of one. Murtaugh in each succeeding film has placed his family in more and more danger, and that is because he is also a lethal weapon, like Riggs but has conformed and masked that quality in himself ("I'm too old for this shit"), but always manages to return to what may have been a former self in times of stress and need. With this film both characters are questioning their age and what their life is going to become. Hence, this may be the last film in the series, since Riggs and Murtaugh have to convince themselves that 'They are not too old'.
The main villain Wah Sing Ku is played by Hong Kong superstar Jet Li, and his inclusion in this film is revolutionary. Never on U.S. screens have we seen this masterful a presentation of martial artistry since Bruce Lee. This man looks deadly. His calm, seemingly emotionless demeanor is simply a mask hiding a raging tiger. When Mr. Li lets loose, you can only be certain that you'll want to see more of this incredibly talented man.
Chris Rock is added to the cast as Lee Butters, and he brings his trademark style of rapid fire comedy to the team. The secret to his character is that he is married to Murtaugh's daughter (unknown to Murtaugh), and treats his stepfather with so much respect, that Murtaugh mistakes the younger mans attention as possibly homosexual in context.
All of the characters in the film act on behalf of their families. So, while Jet Li may be the villain of the piece, he has as strong a conviction and moral purpose as Riggs or Murtaugh. This is the best development in the script.
Richard Donner continues to prove that he can direct an action film in his sleep. His style is so effortless and uncomplicated that the film moves with a brisk and flawless pace. This is no faint praise. Mr. Donner is becoming of of our best Directors. The script by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Channing Gibson and Shane Black is remarkably tight considering the differing styles of each author. This is a credit to producer Joel Silver and Richard Donner, who's sense of story and character is as strong as ever.
Lethal Weapon 4 is a fine piece of entertainment and a worthy finish to a classic series. Why do I call this the last of the series. Well durring the end credits, we are shown a photo album with photos past and present of all four films. The last shot is of the book closing.. on the series.
On a scale of *****, "Lethal Weapon 4' rates ****.
Copyright 1998 R. L. Strong.Nothing in this article may be reprinted or copied without the expressed written permission of the author.
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