Lethal Weapon (1987) directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson & Danny Glover / Z-View

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Lethal Weapon (1987)

Director: Richard Donner

Screenplay:  Shane Black; Jeffrey Boam (uncredited)

Stars: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitchell Ryan, Tom Atkins, Darlene Love, Traci Wolfe, Jackie Swanson, Ebonie Smith, Bill Kalmenson, Lycia Naff, Don Gordon, Jimmie F. Skaggs, Jason Ronard, Blackie Dammett,  Mary Ellen Trainor, Jack Thibeau, Ed O’Ross, Joan Severance and Al Leong.

Tagline: After 20 years on the force, police detective Roger Murtaugh has come face-to-face with the most dangerous killing machine in Los Angeles… his new partner.

The Plot…

Martin Riggs (Gibson) was a Special Forces Ranger.  Now he’s a Los Angeles police Sergeant.  Since the unexpected death of his wife, Riggs’ behavior has become erratic.  Riggs’ Captain thinks Riggs is faking it to get early retirement.  The police psychologist isn’t so sure.  So the Captain teams Riggs with 20 year veteran Homicide Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Glover). The Captain figures Murtaugh will keep Riggs in line.

Murtaugh quickly discovers Riggs ain’t faking it.

An old friend of Murtaugh contacts him for help.  The friend’s daughter is into drugs, prostitution and pornography.  When Murtaugh and Riggs investigate, they discover a high level para-military organization acting as a drug cartel.

Now Murtaugh and Riggs are marked for death.  If the cartel doesn’t kill them, Riggs’ death wish might.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Richard Donner dedicated the film to legendary stuntman, Dar Robinson, who died shortly after filming was completed.

Gibson was 30 playing a character that is 38.  Glover was 40 playing a 50 year old.

Blackie Dammett whose real name is John Kiedis plays a drug dealer that gets The Three Stooges treatment from Gibson.  Dammett is the father of Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Richard Donner brought in Jeffrey Boam for an uncredited rewrite of Shane Black’s script.  Donner thought Black’s take was too dark.  Boam was brought in again for a clean-up on Lethal Weapon 2.  Boam then wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon 3.

Traci Wolfe played Murtaugh’s teenage daughter that had a crush on Riggs.  At the time of filming Wolfe was 26 and Gibson was 30.

Lethal Weapon is one of my all-time favorite films.  Notice I didn’t just say “action films”.  Everything about this one is right.

Lethal Weapon (1987) rates 5 of 5 stars.