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Lethal Weapon 2
Lethal Weapon 2

7.0

Lethal Weapon 2

R·1989·114m

Summary

In the opening chase, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh stumble across a trunk full of Krugerrands. They follow the trail to a South African diplomat who's using his immunity to conceal a smuggling operation. When he plants a bomb under Murtaugh's toilet, the action explodes!

Cast

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson

Martin Riggs

Danny Glover

Danny Glover

Roger Murtaugh

Joe Pesci

Joe Pesci

Leo Getz

Joss Ackland

Joss Ackland

Arjen Rudd

Derrick O'Connor

Derrick O'Connor

Pieter Vorstedt

Patsy Kensit

Patsy Kensit

Rika Van Den Haas

Darlene Love

Darlene Love

Trish Murtaugh

Traci Wolfe

Traci Wolfe

Rianne Murtaugh

Mark Rolston

Mark Rolston

Hans

Steve Kahan

Steve Kahan

Captain Murphy

Jenette Goldstein

Jenette Goldstein

Meagan Shapiro

Dean Norris

Dean Norris

Tim Cavanaugh

Juney Smith

Juney Smith

Tom Wyler

Nestor Serrano

Nestor Serrano

Eddie Estaban

Philip Suriano

Joseph Ragucci

Grand L. Bush

Grand L. Bush

Jerry Collins

Tony Carreiro

Tony Carreiro

Marcelli

Damon Hines

Damon Hines

Nick Murtaugh

Ebonie Smith

Ebonie Smith

Carrie Murtaugh

Allan Dean Moore

George

Jack McGee

Jack McGee

Carpenter

Paul Tuerpe

Paul Tuerpe

Hitman

Philip Maurice Miller

Hitman

Sherman Howard

Sherman Howard

Hitman

Bruce Young

Hitman

Guy Mack

Hitman

Danny Wynands

Danny Wynands

Hitman

Pat Skipper

Pat Skipper

Hitman

Robert Fol

Consulate Guard

Virginia Shannon

Consulate Office Worker

Dan Ondrejko

Consulate Clerk #2

Jim Piddock

Jim Piddock

Consulate Envoy

Kenneth Tigar

Kenneth Tigar

Bomb Squad Leader

Jim Birge

Bomb Squad Cop #2

Patrick Cameron

Patrick Cameron

Bomb Squad Cop #3

Mary Ellen Trainor

Mary Ellen Trainor

Police Psychiatrist

David Marciano

David Marciano

Cop #1

Tommy Hinkley

Tommy Hinkley

Cop #2

Norman D. Wilson

Norman D. Wilson

Detective in Squad Room

Jeanne McGuire

Computer Operator #1

Catherine Guel

Computer Operator #2

Lionel Douglass

Officer Friesen

James Oliver

Officer Moss

Salim Jaidi

Policeman

Al Weber Jr.

Poolside Card Player

Edward J. Rosen

Poolside Card Player

Jay Della

Poolside Card Player

Marian Collier

Marian Collier

Poolside Card Player

Orlando Bonner

Tow Truck Driver

Cynthia Burr

Owner of Honda

Fred Moon

Bus Stop Guy (uncredited)

J. Mills Goodloe

J. Mills Goodloe

Eddie (uncredited)

Jorga Caye

Ice Hockey Fan (uncredited)

Lana Houston

Man in Condom Television Commercial (uncredited)

Beau Lotterman

Beau Lotterman

Policeman (uncredited)

Larry Clardy

Policeman (uncredited)

Conrad Hurtt

Squad Room Officer (uncredited)

Bettina M. Johnson

Squad Room Woman (uncredited)

Todd Blood

Todd Blood

Street Extra (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Richard Donner

Characters, Story

Shane Black

Screenplay

Jeffrey Boam

Script Editor

Robert Mark Kamen

Story

Warren Murphy

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

July 7, 2019

7

A truly great sequel that expands upon the friendship that was born in the first picture.

Intrepid cop partners Riggs & Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats who are using their diplomatic immunities to engage in criminal activities.

With the success of Lethal Weapon in 1987 it made common sense to follow it with a sequel. All the same elements were in place, cast, director and writers were all back for another slice of buddy buddy action bonanza. The only change of course is the villains, here represented by Joss Ackland & Derrick O'Connor's weasel South African bastardos. Joe Pesci enters the fray as the comical Leo Getz, a Federal Witness that the cop duo have to "babysit" till trial.

Right from the off the tone of the film is set as our ears split and our eyes get dazzled by a high speed car chase. Riggs & Murtaugh are in hot pursuit whilst exchanging a now customary difference of opinion as regards police work. We know they are mates and we know that Riggs is still the lethal weapon and Murtaugh is old school copper. So whilst there's nothing new in that the formula remains the same, the makers do flesh out the relationship more as the film progresses - with one or two scenes absolute gold dust as the boys' lives come under serious threat. We are now, in spite of the carnage that surrounds them, involved with them, yes, such is the charm of their relationship, we do care. It's good writing, regardless of the charges from some quarters that these films are nasty shallow excuses for making money...

It's fair to say that this is Gibson's movie, this is because it's written that way. Some of Riggs' back story is filled in and he even gets a love interest in the slender form of Patsy Kensit. Riggs cracks the jokes and does the outrageous mental stuff, while Glover's (still doing fine work in Gibson's shadow) Murtaugh continues to be the counter opposite, with some of the astute written sequences involving Murtaugh and the South African core of the story being excellently handled by Glover. Regardless of character development and nifty political observations, it's the action that dominates proceedings. Director Richard Donner has a wail of a time putting the cast through their paces. There's explosions, fights, shoot-outs, more high speed pursuits, and on it goes till we get to the finale, and it's a potential cliffhanger one too.

Two more inferior sequels would follow, all of which still made serious money, but this serves notice of the last time that all the elements came together successfully. A stylish Hollywood action comedy with two impressionable lead actors providing a lesson in on screen chemistry success. 7.5/10

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$25,000,000.00

Revenue:

$227,900,000.00

Keywords

showdown
police
loss of loved one
sequel
mixed martial arts
gang
los angeles, california
police detective
wisecrack humor
buddy cop
diplomatic immunity
lapd
maverick cop
action hero