They used to be funny, but now every joke they make seems to fall flat.
They used to feel edgy and cool, but now they just come across as crass and patronising.
My friends, what you have just read is actually a deep, complex and very clever analogy.
You see, Im not really writing about old friends… Im writing aboutLethal Weapon.
And, for me at least,Lethal Weapon 3is arguably the lowest point.
Gone is the man overwhelmed by profound grief, desperately searching for a reason to get through the day.
Absent is the character volatile over his loss, and unpredictably dangerous as a result.
Oh c’mon, make it stop… And its heart breaking.
ByLethal Weapon 3his nihilism has morphed into goofy recklessness.
Riggs was somewhat unique in the first film and his fragile state of mind made for a compelling antihero.
He became a maverick cop who doesnt play by the rules and Lord knows we had enough of those.
One of the defining characteristics of the franchise is the bromance of its two lead characters.
By the second film theyre practically family; Riggs a surrogate uncle to Murtaughs three kids.
They are there for each other no matter what.
Which makes Riggs behaviour towards his partner all the more galling in this third chapter.
Yet Martin spends the entire film chastising him for his decision.
What happens to you happens to me.
Youre not just retiring you, youre retiring us!
Lets be clear whats really motivating this behaviour the audience and the producers.
Riggs is giving voice to the people invested in this lucrative franchise.
They dont want to see this partnership broken up and thats why Martin is taking this uncharacteristically selfish approach.
Remember when Serge, played by the great Bronson Pinchot, appeared inBeverly Hills Cop 3?
And it gave him an excuse to repeat some of those funny lines from the first film too!
Little lemon twist… Classic!
Akwell Foley Hilarious!!
This is a phenomenon I call the gangs all back syndrome.
I recognise that character from a previous episode!
This makes me happy!
Said character is saying the same thing they always say.
This also makes me happy!
Nevertheless, step forward lady psychiatrist (Hey, I recognise her from the first two films!
My experience of watching this film has been enhanced!
), bomb disposal guy (He helped out with the bomb under the toilet inLethal Weapon 2!
Im giddy with recollection!
), and… (sigh)…and Leo Getz.
Oh and yes, Leos a real estate broker now because…
HE JUST IS, OK?!
Id never describeLethal Weapon(the original) as an action-comedy.
The sequel upped the humour substantially and, for the most part, was successful.Lethal Weapon 3?
Firstly: another example of Riggs being a dick, but secondly: not particularly funny.
Dont just have Mel Gibson crack up unconvincingly at the outcome to fool us into thinking its a hoot.
If I sigh any more, Ill pass out…
Lethal Weapon 3nearly did something pretty amazing.
At one point late in the movie, Roger kills another one, but this one he recognises.
Hes just a baby!
Roger quickly realises that it wasnt his fault the lad got shot, or even the boys fault.
No, it was the people who put the gun in his hand.
And theres only one way to deal with people who do things like that.
And thats to shoot them and their employees multiple times.
Roger comes to this epiphany while drunk on his boat.
He then ends the film by helping them kill a lot of people at a construction site.
He is never mentioned again.
Lets conclude by remembering what the film got right.
So when alls said and done, is this the worst of the four films?
The big bad inLethal Weapon 3doesnt even get a mention in its own retrospective…
