I'm too old for this...
The Story:
Veteran cop Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is nearing retirement. He finds himself saddled with a new partner, a burn-out, possibly suicidal maniac, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). The two are pulled into a suicide which leads them back to an old Army buddy of Roger's. The question then becomes, who is going to kill the cops first, the bad guys, or each other?
Come on, how much of a plot synopsis do you want me to give to Lethal Weapon?
It's over 25 years old and is a classic in its own rights.
If the film didn't define it, it at the very least redefined the entire Buddy Cop action flick.
Want to take film-making 101 for making that kind of movie, look no further.
First, get two polar opposites that bicker and squabble with each other, but come to depend and work well with each other by the end of the film.
Literally put them on death's door or as much of a physical wringer as you can muster, and you'll see what they are made of on the inside as well as how tough they are on the outside.
This was Shane Black's first feature movie that he wrote, and he knocked it out of the park on his first try. He's kept the Christmas feeling over the rest of the movies he's worked on, most recently with Iron Man 3.
Aside from pairing Glover and Gibson together, they also put them opposite Gary Busey who is simply unleashed on the screen as possibly the most psychotic villain to plague 80s cops. If Die Hard had the suave Hans Gruber to counteract the everyman John McClane, Lethal Weapon offered up Mr. Joshua as the psychopath who could channel Riggs inner rage, and give in to it.
You have to believe that the villains can beat the hero, and literally our heroes limp across the finish line when it's all over.
Tying this all together is Richard Donner. If push comes to shove, I will say that he is, for overall body of work, my favorite director of all time. His movies are nearly always entertaining and in a way, timeless. While this movie is made in the 80s, it could just as easily be now, or earlier. That's just how Donner works, and his movies age really well.
Plus, much like Die Hard, it's got a Christmas theme, so it's a way to get some adrenaline during the holidays pumped into your system. Normally I try and squeeze these into holiday viewing when I'm wrapping gifts for the kids. Now that they've figured out how great Die Hard is, I wonder when they'll come waiting to see this one?!
Final Grade: A+
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I love 'em, I own 'em!
