Lethal Weapon
1987
***
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Jackie Swanson, Steve Kahan
After a young woman dies under mysterious circumstances, Roger Murtaugh, a veteran detective and family man, is partnered with Martin Riggs, a younger colleague who has become a loose cannon following his wife's tragic death. This iconic buddy cop action movie, which was scripted by Shane Black, has some exciting set pieces and nice banter between two well-written and well-played characters. However, in the final third, the events and the detectives turn rather unpleasant, and the climactic fist fight is just dumb. Followed by Lethal Weapon 2 and two other sequels, plus a TV spin-off (2016-2019).
