"We're not too old for this sh**!!"      

LETHAL WEAPON 4 (R) 

Reviewed July 12, 1998 - Check out the Lethal Weapon 4 web site.

Choreographed mayhem, that's what this is.  And for those who've been witness to the first three Lethal Weapon films featuring LAPD Sgts. Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover), you know pretty much what to expect.  Car chases, gunfights, and lots of crazy (but often entertaining) banter between the two cops are what have made the Lethal Weapon series so successful, and Lethal Weapon 4 does nothing to stray from this formula.  This time, Riggs and Murtaugh are again joined by loudmouthed Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) and female cop Lorna Cole (Rene Russo), but they also find themselves in the company of police officer Lee Butters (Chris Rock) as they try to crack a Chinese slave trade operation involving Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li).

So, what's the word on this fourth installment of the popular series?  Well, it's not bad but it's not great either.  Those who enjoy the bickering between Riggs and Murtaugh will find more of the same here, with Getz and Butters adding a couple of hilarious exchanges to the mix.  The action is, as expected, big and fast, with something being shot, kicked, smashed, or blown up at almost every turn.  Naturally, this is all meant to be fun, so the tone is definitely bent towards the ridiculous.  Fortunately or unfortunately, Gibson, Glover, Pesci, and Russo are all up for the challenge, and apparently so is Chris Rock.  Uh-kay, uh-kay, uhkayuhkayuhkay, so not only is the action loud, but the characters are loud too, and Lethal Weapon 4 walks a fine line between being crazy-funny and being stupid-annoying.  In the end, of course, it is both. 

As someone who has enjoyed some of the prior Lethal Weapon efforts, I have to credit Director/Producer Richard Donner for giving the series enough life to get this far.  I also have to admit a certain amount of enjoyment in watching Gibson and Glover go at the bad guys again.  Still, there's not much here that's new or particularly noteworthy from a moviegoing experience.  It's a take it or leave it experience...but then again what do you expect from a sequel to a sequel to a sequel...

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

JB-Kim@wiu.edu gives this movie  stars: "If a movie is simply entertainment, then this movie is just that. Entertaining. People who are looking for anything more are finding that they really don't have anything better to do. Especially with a movie lke Lethal Weapon 4. Racism? Asian bashing? While I am Korean-American (and VERY proud of it), I found that this movie was entertaining, plain and simple. There is no doubt that Jet Li is possibly one of the greatest Martial artists in the world. Chris Rock is hysterical as Lee Butters. Joe Pesci, Mel Gibson, and Danny Glover work extremely well together. And Rene Russo compliments Mel's more "sensitive" side well. The movie is not going to deliver any particular messages outside of "Slave labor and counterfeit money = BAD" But then again, I guess people know that. Hell, people say gangster movies make Italian people look bad, but you don't see them crying "racism" That being the case, why is it that movies like Lethal Weapon 4 have people screaming "racist bastards"? " (1/30/99)

d-park@cornell-iowa.edu gives this movie  stars: "Standard plot, lots of racism, and stereotyping, but overall a well paced film. I think speed had a lot to do with the 4's success as the quick tempo never allowed you to get bored. Jet Li made the movie, the movie. His speed, grace, and menacing glares gave the film the flare it needed to survive all the typical taunting and swearing. See it with your buds, have a good time. It's the only action flick this summer that's actually exciting." (12/10/98)

George Davitos gives this movie  stars: "It was a great movie. With the fantasic rene russo." (9/27/98)

Aphrodite Mattheou gives this movie  stars: "It was a great movie. Mel Gibson was fantastic!!!!" (9/25/98)

sbeirne@nsw.bigpond.net.au gives this movie  stars. (9/23/98)

Eric gives this movie  stars: "Too much Asian-bashing, but entertaining and exciting. Chris Rock provides the humor and Jet Li is amazing." (8/19/98)

Dave gives this movie  stars: "It's funny and action pack. But not as tight and full as the previous flicks in the series. And their also getting way too old for this!" (8/1/98)

karr1@marshall.edu gives this movie  stars: "They should have stopped at LW3!" (7/28/98)