Lethal Weapon 4

So now we get to the last film in this great series, “Lethal Weapon 4,” released in 1998. The most important people returned in their previous roles: Richard Donner as director and co-producer, Joel Silver as producer, Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, and Rene Russo all as the main cast, and lastly Michael Kamen as music composer. The film got a 100 million dollar budget, which is very high, especially for the series. Richard Donner planned this to be the final, as he and the cast had been willing to return for a fourth film. Even though doing that for a third film used to be rare, they had waited a couple of years to develop great ideas, which everyone got to add, and they shot and edited scenes before writing new ones. It was very ambitious, but Richard Donner was still a detailed actor’s director, who allowed for improvisation when fitting, and he was a detailed visual director. They got Miles Millar and Alfred Gough as co-storywriters, who would do the same for the brilliant “Spiderman 2.” One of the funniest comedians, Chris Rock, and a great martial artist, Jet Li, both were added as new cast members. Also, in spite of it now being 1998, and “Jurassic Park,” “Forest Gump,” and “Men In Black” having used CGI excessively, they still used practical special visual effects and stunts, even though the action scenes in this film are even more excessive then those in the first 3.

The film got mixed reactions, where the third got mixed to positive, but it still was liked by a lot of fans, although some dismiss it also the same way some dismiss 3, but it was the second highest grossing film, making $285 million.

So the question is: Is this is a great film and does it live up to the first 3 films? The answer is yes, and it is a great finale to the series.

Its action scenes are phenomenal with large trucks and cars exploding, kung-fu fighting added, crashing rocks, and giant shootouts are very well shot and also edited. They are numerous but they further the story with having the Chinese family be captured, and resulting in the villain’s death, and the death of the four fathers. The film again is really funny, with Riggs shooting the glass door in the Chinese restaurant when they are lying, and a guy seeming to be a killer when he actually just got scared, and Riggs paraphrasing Murtaugh saying he “ain`t too old for this $%*&.” We see that he feels as though they just have to take the bad guy out at the end, he makes Murtaugh think his future son-in-law is gay, and all these jokes are in character and further the characterization and story. They range from slapstick to witty one-liners. The special visual effects are fantastic, the explosions detailed, and all the destructed cars authentic. Its music is again exotic, dramatic and exciting. It has really detailed and vibrant cinematography, intense and also very dramatic lighting, and very fluent directing and exciting editing.

So the film succeeds technically, but does it have substance? Oh yes.

It furthers the story by this time centering on immigration smuggling, and Murtaugh becoming richer, which is because his wife, Trish (played by Darlene Love), writes romance novels which follows up on her being a supportive house wife. The film has a smart theme of immigration, showing Murtaugh is ok with supporting people who break the law by coming secretly, as his ancestors were granted the same thing. We see people often immigrate because they are desperate, and that sometimes people of their own nation try to take advantage of it. It furthers the theme of family from the first 3 films, showing Leo really likes Riggs, and that new friends are just different, after which he can finally move on and marry again. Murtaugh learns to accept that his daughter, Rianne (played by Traci Wolfe), is dating a cop, as he is a good person, and we see the Chinese family care about each other also. The film also comments on age, showing Riggs is now getting old, but that often you can decide how old you want to be. The film’s mystery is really smart and thick involving fake money; kidnapping, human trafficking, and deals with the military, and the characters are again really deep. Murtaugh is a bit prejudiced, but also supportive, caring, and he can be scared, yet courageous, and grows to accept a new son-in-law. Riggs is more sentimental, romantic and warm, yet still violent and jokey, and he completes his character arc of moving on, and Leo Getz is still whiney, yet helpful, comforting, and awkward. Lorna Cole is sweet, supportive, yet also a bit secretive about how she truly feels. Lee Butters is a smarty, yet also strong, loving, and supportive. Wah Sing Ku is menacing, sadistic, and also cruel, manipulative and subtle, yet he loves his four fathers, and is principled. Mel Gibson is intense but also more subtle and vulnerable. Danny Glover is detailed and warm, yet cranky. Chris Rock is funny and witty but can also be serious. Joe Pesci is funny yet vulnerable. Jet Li is menacing, and intense, and Rene Russo is sweet and subtle. The film also has great deep and also witty dialogue, and is dark, yet a lot of fun.

The film completes Riggs and Murtaugh’s arcs, as well as the family theme, and ties up Leo and Lorna’s character issues. It is a very complete ending to the series, and a great film. It lives up to the first 3, and is really underrated, so check it out.

Chris Rock himself said on “Inside the Actors Studio” that Lee Butters was what came in the kit where you end up in a big movie. They made a poster, tested Chris’s name with two or three other comedians, and his name tested the highest. Joel Silver brought Chris to see Mel Gibson; Mel just looked at Chris and said, “You’re kind of funny. You’re in.” Chris knows that people do not like Mel, especially after what he did in “The Passion of the Christ,” but gives credit to Mel for giving Chris his first big check. It was an unbelievable experience for Chris because he grew up watching “Lethal Weapon” so many times. This must have been surreal for Chris working with Mel, Danny, and Pesci, who Chris says was as funny as they come.

Thank you so much for joining in on “Lethal Weapon Month.” I hope you have enjoyed this month as much as reviewreviewer1 and I had fun writing these blogs for these four really great films. One more thing: “Lethal Weapon 5.” Should it really happen? I think they should. There has been talk about it for a while, but I don’t think Mel is interested. He might get interested down the road, or they might just work the film out without him, the same way Dan Aykroyd is working “Ghostbusters 3” without Bill Murray. As always, stay tuned for more of my film reviews coming at you.