Lethal Weapon 4

The weakest of the series, Lethal Weapon 4 follows Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs and Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh as they stumble upon a cargo ship full of Chinese refugees and must subsequently track down the men responsible for their slave-like treatment. As expected, Richard Donner kicks Lethal Weapon 4 off with an engrossing action sequence that certainly sets a high bar for what’s to come – although it does become increasingly clear that the picture, while basically watchable, is simply unable to achieve those heights for the remainder of its overlong running time. (There’s an enthralling mid-movie car chase that stands as a rare exception to this, ultimately.) The expected chemistry between Riggs and Murtaugh remains a highlight, of course, but Channing Gibson’s screenplay suffers from a been-there-done-that sort of quality that leaves them with little to do (ie everyone really seems to be going through the motions in this one). It doesn’t help, certainly, that the central villains’ motives remain vague at best, although Jet Li’s menacing turn as the top henchman undoubtedly does remain a highlight (as does his surprisingly brutal fight with Riggs and Murtaugh during the film’s climax). The upbeat, completely satisfying ending ensures that the whole thing finishes on a positive note, at least, which does confirm Lethal Weapon 4’s place as a woefully erratic entry within a somewhat less-than-consistent series.

**1/2 out of ****

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