Lethal Weapon (1987)

Introduction

Released in 1987, Lethal Weapon didn’t just energize the buddy cop genre—it redefined it. Directed by Richard Donner and written by Shane Black, the film fuses intense action, razor-sharp banter, and surprising emotional depth, all anchored by the now-iconic chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. It walks a deft line between gritty cop drama and stylized action spectacle, with undertones of noir, post-Vietnam disillusionment, and dark comedy.

What makes Lethal Weapon more than just a high-octane thrill ride is how deeply human it is. Beneath the shootouts and explosions lies a story about grief, friendship, and the thin blue line that separates justice from vengeance. This film set the standard for action filmmaking in the late ’80s and ’90s, paving the way for franchises like Bad Boys, Rush Hour, and even Die Hard with a Vengeance.

Plot Summary

Los Angeles, Christmastime. Vietnam veteran and LAPD homicide detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is enjoying the relative calm of family life as he turns 50. His peaceful routine is shattered when he’s assigned a new partner: Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), a volatile cop with a death wish, reeling from the recent suicide of his wife.

Their first case together involves the mysterious death of Amanda Hunsaker, the daughter of one of Murtaugh’s old army buddies. As they unravel the threads of the case, the two uncover a heroin smuggling operation run by a shadowy group of ex-military operatives led by the sadistic Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey).

Through car chases, gunfights, torture scenes, and explosive confrontations, the mismatched duo slowly build trust and camaraderie. By the end, Riggs may not be "cured," but he's no longer alone.

Themes and Analysis

The Psychological Toll of Violence

Unlike most '80s action heroes, Martin Riggs is deeply wounded. A former Special Forces sniper, he carries the trauma of war and the fresh grief of losing his wife. His suicidal tendencies are not played for shock value—they’re the foundation of his character. When we first see him put a loaded gun in his mouth, it’s one of the darkest moments in mainstream action cinema of the era.

Riggs is the embodiment of internalized trauma: dangerously unpredictable, unmoored, and constantly toeing the line between law enforcement and total breakdown. His journey toward emotional stability is central to the film, giving Lethal Weapon a surprising amount of emotional resonance.

Race, Family, and Institutional Contrasts

Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh is a rare depiction of a Black middle-class patriarch in 1980s Hollywood. He’s stable, loving, cautious—a counterweight to Riggs’s chaos. The contrast isn’t just in personality but in life context. Murtaugh is grounded by his family, while Riggs lives in a trailer with nothing but a dog and a gun.

Their dynamic also reflects a subtle commentary on policing. Murtaugh is by-the-book and loyal to institutions, while Riggs is an agent of chaos whose methods border on vigilantism. Their journey is about balance—each learning from the other to find a functional (and moral) centre.

The Birth of the Modern Buddy Cop Formula

Lethal Weapon didn’t invent the buddy cop movie, but it perfected it. The opposites-attract formula—stable veteran paired with wild-card rookie—has become cliché because this film executed it so well. What sets it apart is how fully realized the characters are. Their relationship feels earned, not forced. Watching Riggs and Murtaugh go from mutual suspicion to fraternal trust is as rewarding as the action set pieces.

Performances

Mel Gibson delivers a tour de force. His portrayal of Riggs balances unhinged energy with palpable sadness. He makes the character feel genuinely dangerous but also sympathetic, especially in quieter scenes that hint at the abyss beneath the surface. His physicality, from improvised jiu-jitsu to manic rage, gives Riggs an edge that’s both thrilling and tragic.

Danny Glover provides the film’s moral and emotional anchor. His Murtaugh is tired, patient, and deeply human. Glover’s delivery of the now-legendary line “I’m too old for this sh*t” isn’t just a joke—it encapsulates the generational and temperamental contrast between the leads. His nuanced performance makes him more than just the “straight man.”

Gary Busey as Mr. Joshua is a sleek, intense villain. Busey plays him with icy calm, making him one of the more memorable henchmen in '80s action lore. The film’s climactic fistfight between Joshua and Riggs is primal and savage—a perfect capstone to their opposing energies.

Direction and Style

Richard Donner, best known at the time for Superman and The Omen, brings a steady hand to the material. He balances intimate character drama with bone-crunching action, keeping the tone from veering too far into either territory. The action sequences are cleanly shot and tightly edited, but it's the smaller scenes—Riggs eating TV dinners in silence or Murtaugh’s quiet frustration at aging—that elevate the film.

The Los Angeles of Lethal Weapon is bright by day and neon-drenched by night. It’s a city of contradictions: sunshine and smog, Christmas trees and corpses. Donner shoots it with noirish flair and realism, creating a backdrop that reflects the volatility of its characters.

Music and Soundtrack

The score, composed by Michael Kamen and performed by Eric Clapton and David Sanborn, is a sultry fusion of orchestral tension, bluesy guitar, and jazzy saxophone. The guitar reflects Riggs’s wild side, the sax underscores Murtaugh’s soulful weariness. The music becomes part of the film’s character palette—moody, melancholic, and expressive.

Legacy and Influence

Lethal Weapon launched a franchise that would run for four films (plus a short-lived TV reboot), though none matched the originality or emotional depth of the first. It helped shape the tone of late-'80s and '90s action cinema—gritty but laced with humour, violent but emotionally grounded. Shane Black’s script, filled with witty one-liners and real stakes, helped make him one of Hollywood’s go-to action writers (The Last Boy Scout, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang).

The film's DNA is visible in everything from Die Hard to Bad Boys to Hot Fuzz. Even John Wick owes a thematic debt to Riggs’s grief-fuelled rampage, albeit stylized differently.

Conclusion

Lethal Weapon is more than just a buddy cop film—it’s a touchstone of '80s cinema. It combines slick action, tight plotting, and memorable performances with genuine emotional weight. It’s funny without being glib, dark without being nihilistic, and thrilling without being hollow. At its core, it’s a story about two broken men finding strength in each other—a theme that remains timeless.