The Lethal Weapon Anthology: A Review of "Lethal Weapon 3"

So what have we had so far? We've had deranged commandos with a pension for drug smuggling and then we've had Afrikaner assholes supporting apartheid... with a pension for drug smuggling. But now, we're getting something entirely different. Riggs and Murtaugh are about to face their biggest challenger yet; a former cop, one who has no doubt lost his pension and is just a little bit upset about that. This is Lethal Weapon 3, and much like Lethal Weapon 2, it raises the stakes, adds more memorable characters and increases the scales in buddy-cop comedy as well as keeping it action-packed and memorable for the whole family... as long as the whole family is seventeen or older. The MPAA still has a job to do, you know. In the film, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) pursue Jack Travis (Stuart Wilson), a former LAPD lieutenant turned ruthless arms dealer (not drugs, arms) during the six days prior to Murtaugh's retirement. Riggs and Murtaugh are joined by the always hilarious Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), as well as Internal Affairs Sergeant Lorna Cole (Rene Russo). Is Lethal Weapon 3 yet another A+ action-comedy? Does it take the bar of Lethal Weapon up to a whole new level again? Absolutely. Let's figure out why.

A week before his retirement, LAPD Sergeant Roger Murtaugh and his partner Martin Riggs are demoted to uniform duties after trying to defuse a bomb before the bomb squad arrived, causing the destruction of an otherwise empty office building. Riggs has one of his many manic episodes in trying to solve the bomb before the actual quad could, thus resulting in the two officers, plus a cat, escaping just before an entire office building is vaporized. While on street patrol they witness the theft of an armored car, and help to thwart the crime assisted by armored car driver Delores (Delores Hall). One of the two thieves gets away, but the other is taken into police custody. The suspect is found to be a known associate of Jack Travis, the evildoer of this movie. The department is further concerned that the thieves were using armor-piercing bullets, informally referred to as "cop killers". Riggs and Murtaugh are re-promoted and assigned to work with Sergeant Lorna Cole (Russo) from internal affairs to track down Travis. So, just because there's one guy who keeps escaping police custody because he's a cop and he knows how that works, there are no other cops who can help them out and it must be Riggs and Murtaugh who are promoted and assigned to the case. Riggs and Murtaugh are Gods in the LAPD.

Travis is currently negotiating with mobster Tyrone (Gregory Millar) regarding his arms deal. The armored car thief that escaped is brought to Travis, who subsequently kills him in front of Tyrone for putting the police on his trail. Travis then uses his old (but still valid) police credentials to enter the interrogation room and kill the suspect in custody before he can be interviewed. This is some Heath Ledger-Joker level of evading the police and getting away with murder; almost supernatural. Travis is unaware that closed-circuit cameras have been installed in the station (This is 1992 after all) and Cole is able to affirm Travis' identity. While the three are reviewing the footage, their good friend Leo Getz, who has been helping Murtaugh sell his house, arrives and immediately recognizes Travis from several prior business deals and his love of ice hockey. Riggs and Murtaugh narrowly miss capturing Travis at a hockey match that afternoon, but Leo has provided them with information of a warehouse Travis owns, which they suspect is where he has stored his arms shipments. I mean, if a bad guy owns a warehouse, ninety-nine times out of a hundred it's where he's storing his illegal shit so the cops can easily find it. Am I right or am I right?

Press 'F' to pay respects for the Rookie

Riggs and Murtaugh contact Cole for backup before they raid the warehouse, and then stop to get something to eat while they wait for her. As they wait for their food, they witness a drug deal which they step in to stop. A gun fight breaks out, and Murtaugh kills one of those involved who had fired back at them, while the rest escape. Murtaugh is shocked to find the dead man is Darryl, a close friend of his son Nick (Damon Hines). With Murtaugh emotionally distraught, Riggs goes with Cole to the warehouse, where they successfully overpower Travis' guards and secure his next arms shipment delivery. That night, Riggs and Cole find they have feelings for each other and sleep together. Riggs later goes to Murtaugh, who is still overwhelmed with guilt, and helps to counsel him in time for Darryl's funeral. There, Darryl's father passionately insists that Murtaugh find the person responsible for giving Darryl the gun... and by "passionately" I mean he stands by while his wife smacks Roger across the mouth. What an awkward and tense moment. This movie lays on the emotion quite a bit and it's something cops have to face on a daily, if not hourly basis. Just the thought of killing someone who was trying to kill you, only for you to realize it was your son's best friend... man I can't even wrap my head around that one.

Man, Joe Pesci doesn't stop bringing the comedy

Cole finds that Darryl's gun, the armor-piercing bullets, and the arms they recovered were originally in police custody, meant to be destroyed, and were likely stolen by Travis; they assure that his credentials are completely revoked from the system. They further tie the guns to Tyrone and interrogate him. Tyrone quickly reveals what he knows of Travis' plans, including an auto garage where many of his henchmen work from. Riggs, Murtaugh, and Cole are able to take several of the men into custody there. Travis then forces Captain Murphy (Steve Kahan) under gunpoint to take him to this new facility so he can steal the guns using Murphy's credentials. Cole finds the evidence of hacking and Murphy's absence, and the three, along with a rookie cop who looks up to Riggs and Murtaugh, go to intercept Travis. Rookie cop eh? I give him ten minutes of screentime before he's toast. They are able to rescue Murphy and stop Travis and his men before he can take the weapons, but the rookie is killed (see?) as they give chase, and Riggs and Murtaugh vow to stop Travis once and for all. It's the showdown of the immortals, folks, and Riggs doesn't like to lose these.

Leo shows up and provides information on a housing development under construction by a company owned by Travis. Getz tries to join them but they shoot his tires out to stop him from coming. Probably one of the funniest moments in the movie. Joe Pesci's high-squealing anger is what makes his character great. Riggs and Murtaugh instead bring Cole along to infiltrate the site at night, and find themselves met by Travis and his men who have been waiting for them. A massive action-gunfight breaks out, in which Riggs sets the construction site on fire and most of Travis' men are killed like the expendable gunmen they are. Cole appears to be shot by Travis and falls, inciting Riggs. Not to like transform into a Riggs-Hulk or anything, but just to beat the ever loving shit out of Travis. When Travis uses a bulldozer to chase down Riggs, using its blade as a bullet shield, Murtaugh tosses Daryl's gun, now loaded with the armor-piercing bullets, to Riggs, who then (in one badass moment) shoots and kills Travis through the bulldozer blade. Cole is found to be alive and safe, having worn two protective vests. Riggs admits his love for her as she is taken away in a chopper. The next day, Murtaugh's family are celebrating his retirement, when Murtaugh reveals to Leo and his family that he has decided to not sell the house and stay with the force, preserving his partnership with Riggs. As the film ends, Riggs announces to Murtaugh that he and Cole are in a relationship. A heartwarming conclusion that ensures us, like many James Bond-style endings before it, that "Riggs & Murtaugh will return".

...and boy do they ever! But let's talk about Lethal Weapon 3 real quick. As I mentioned, the plot does raise the elements of comedy by letting Leo do more, giving the second of his three "They fuck you" rants; This time claiming that hospitals take advantage of their patients (see below)) as well as giving Rene Russo's Lorna Cole character some punchy wit to her to counteract Riggs' boyish demeanor and charm. Murtaugh's "grandfather" type presence to the crew really solidifies the quartet and gives them a unique and comedic flow. His constant phrasing of "getting too old for this shit" has been running solid since Lethal Weapon but now by Lethal Weapon 3 seems more heartwarming than it does a cry for help. Jack Travis is one of the most ruthless villains that the Lethal Weapon crew has come face-to-face with, but is he the most ruthless? My money is on "yes", but only "as of now". You'll find out why soon. Wink. Anywho, the movie, in my opinion, is yet another classic. If Lethal Weapon remained a trilogy, it would rank right up there with some of the greatest trilogies ever made. Lethal Weapon 3 is just as action-packed, but moreso witty and comedic than Lethal Weapon and also packs more of a love and relationship punch than Lethal Weapon 2. Only moreso, as the drama and loss of Lethal Weapon 2's twist that both Riggs' wife and his later-girlfriend were killed by the bad guys was one-two gut punch of sadness (right in the feelings). Still, this one brings Riggs' character back, gives him something to live for even more and softens his aggressive edge even more. So much so that next... we would receive, without a doubt, the best of the entire series... stick with me. We're just about done! Enjoy more Leo.