LETHAL WEAPON 4 (Theatrical Release USA 1998)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì

Lethal Weapon
4—with righteously comedic action—successfully ends the Lethal Weapon film series. While the addition of character Detective Lee Butters (Chris Rock) seems bombastic compared to the more mellow characters of Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), everything smoothes into a harmonious whole that completely satisfies in entertainment value.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs try to figure a game plan to overcome criminals while talking personal matters in the event either one of them dies in line of duty.  Martin Riggs sends Roger Murtaugh to distract a criminal while Martin Riggs shoots the oxygen tank on the criminal’s back. The criminal is sent sailing into a gas truck which goes up in an explosion; but, since the gas truck is parked at a 76 gas station, the gas station goes up in an explosion, too. The gas truck lands on Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs’ police car, which also explodes. Later, while shark fishing with Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), they come under gunfire from a boat. Martin Riggs breaches the boat and starts to eliminate occupants. Several barrels catch on fire and a barrel flies into the air and lands in Roger Murtaugh's boat cabin. Illegal persons are deported back to their country by U.S. deportation officers. Later, Roger Murtaugh finds persons hiding from U.S. deportation officers in his lifeboat. He decides to help them and offers them a home at his house. The pace is set for the rest of the story.

Additional Thanks

Great work for Director and Producer Richard Donner. Thanks to Executive Producers Steve Perry and Jim Van Wyck for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Lorna Cole (Rene Russo), Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li), Captain Ed Murphy (Steve Kahan), Benny “Uncle Benny” Chan (Kim Chan), Trish Murtaugh (Darlene Love), Rianne Murtaugh Butters (Traci Wolfe), and Hong Chinese Refugee (Eddy Ko).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a laugh-out-loud comedy that borders on the edge of bellyache.

Video Critique Available Here:



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