Lethal Weapon 2 is the perfect sequel. Let’s get that out of the way right off the bat. Richard Donner’s action-packed follow-up to his popular buddy cop comedy-drama, 1987’s Lethal Weapon, delivers the goods by significantly upping the stakes, deepening the characters, and introducing new elements that enhance the pre-established formula.
To that end, LW2 easily sits alongside The Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather: Part II, Spider-Man 2, and The Dark Knight as a sequel that lives up to and surpasses the original.
It’s not just great; it’s a blast. Lethal Weapon 2 is a rollercoaster of action, humor, and heart that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Don’t believe me? Then, read on for a deep dive into what makes Lethal Weapon 2 the most spectacular chapter in the Mel Gibson/Danny Glover franchise and a breathtaking motion picture in its own right.
Characters
Lethal Weapon 2’s plot clings mostly to formula. LA police officers Martin Riggs (Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh must prevent a group of South African diplomats from smuggling drugs into the country. Simple. Nothing groundbreaking. The storyline effectively pushes us from Point A to Point B to Point C, thus allowing Donner and writer Jeffrey Boam to dig further into the characters.
In Lethal Weapon 2, character development takes center stage. We delve deeper into Riggs’ tragic past, gaining a better understanding of his unpredictable nature. We also get to see more of Murtaugh’s personal life and witness the strengthening of his bond with Riggs in the face of various challenges. Honestly, one of my favorite moments from any buddy cop film is the toilet bomb scene where Riggs stays behind to save his pal from certain death:
The toilet bomb scene is a testament to the impeccable on-screen chemistry between Gibson and Glover. It’s a darkly humorous yet heartfelt moment that showcases Riggs’ unwavering loyalty to his partner. He’s like a loyal, albeit unpredictable, dog-you might find him irritating at times, but you can always count on him when things get tough.
Uniquely, the roles are reversed in the third act after Rika van den Haas (Patsy Kensit) bites the dust. Riggs understandably goes berserk, and Murtaugh must decide whether to follow his partner into the abyss. Reluctantly, he agrees, paving the way for the famed stilt house sequence:
Another significant element of LW2, and all the sequels, for that matter, is the way Donner hones in on Murtaugh’s family. They don’t play an enormous part in the story here, but their brief screentime helps us better understand Murtaugh’s natural reluctance to perform death-defying leaps at his partner’s behest. He has something to live for, even if his domesticated life often proves thornier than his job:
Still, Donner’s most significant upgrade was the inclusion of Joe Pesci’s Leo Getz. Ostensibly functioning as the Curly to Riggs and Murtaugh’s Larry and Moe, Getz breathes fresh life into the formula and provides our heroes with another means of dispatching their fast-talking banter:
Pesci’s performance is remarkable. He lights up the screen the moment he appears and instantly propels Lethal Weapon 2 to an entirely different level. While his character doesn’t have much to do in the latter half of the picture, Pesci leaves a mark and more than holds his own against Gibson and Glover:
Action
Lethal Weapon contains the best action scenes of the franchise — nothing tops Riggs chasing Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey) on foot down the freeway — but the sequel significantly ups the ante in terms of spectacle. Donner sets the tone with an exciting car chase that starts the movie perfectly:
Later, after meeting Leo, our boys take down a would-be assassin, leading to this hilariously over-the-top sequence:
We get the obligatory second act car chase:
A nifty shootout at Riggs’ trailer:
And a bit involving Murtaugh and a nail gun:
Although the action in LW2 may not top the original, it is darker, edgier, and more character-driven. When Riggs fights Pieter (Derrick O’Connor) during the climactic third act, Donner doesn’t try to top the iconic fight with Mr. Joshua in Lethal Weapon. Instead, he keys in on the rage boiling within Riggs and his revenge-fueled desire for blood, resulting in a much grittier confrontation:
Everything feels more personal on this go-round, which is what makes LW2 such a memorable follow-up.
Humor
The original Lethal Weapon can best be described as an action drama with moments of levity. While the last two chapters, Lethal Weapon 3 and 4, lean harder on the comedy, sometimes to a painful degree, Lethal Weapon 2 strikes the perfect balance. Moreover, the sequel knows when to shut up and play it straight.
That said, LW2 is hilarious:
VILLAINS
As the old adage goes, heroes are only as good as their villains. LW2 understands this and ensures Riggs and Murtaugh’s second stint pushes them to their absolute breaking point. As the ruthless Arjen Rudd, Joss Ackland delivers the best villain you love to hate, second only to Mr. Joshua. Physically, he doesn’t pose much of a threat, but his slimy disposition and crackly delivery of the line “Diplomatic immunity” make my skin crawl.
Donner bathes Rudd in shadows, ensuring that every line and wrinkle on the actor’s face carries more malevolence:
Pieter is intriguing in the way he casually enacts ruthless violence. He always appears calm, if not mildly annoyed. When he reveals to Riggs that he was the one who killed his wife, his tone is very matter-of-fact. Sorry, mate, these things happen in our line of work:
Together with Rudd, Pieter commits more atrocities against the LAPD than the villains in the other three pictures combined, making them, perhaps, Riggs and Murtaugh’s greatest foils to date.
Legacy
With Lethal Weapon 2, director Richard Donner had a near-impossible task to complete. Not only did the sequel have to live up to its outstanding predecessor, but it needed to breathe fresh life into the buddy cop formula or risk coming across as a lifeless cash grab. Somehow, Donner made it all work and produced an ambitious followup that hits harder on an emotional and visceral level and enhances almost every element of the franchise.
Everything in LW2 works right down to the gut-wrenching finale. Personally, I think Riggs’ journey should have ended here. As much as I love Lethal Weapon 3 and 4, the finale of LW2 concluded Riggs’ character arc. Had he died, I wager we look back on the sequel with even more esteem.
As is, the ending still satisfies and leaves us with a feeling of hope — and that’s never a bad thing.
Lethal Weapon 2 is one of my all-time favorite films, a high-octane sequel that still impresses 35 years later. I may be old, but I’ll never be too old for this shit.