Common Sense Media Review
Mismatched cops spar in violent '80s action hit.
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Lethal Weapon
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 20 kid reviews
Kids say this film combines great action and humor, making it enjoyable for older teens and mature audiences, but it is laden with excessive violence, profanity, and sexual content that may not be suitable for younger viewers. While many highlight its entertaining qualities and memorable characters, caution is advised regarding its mature themes.
- action and humor
- mature audience
- excessive violence
- inappropriate content
- memorable characters
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Upon turning 50, LA detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) has been assigned a new partner, the suicidal loose cannon Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Murtaugh, a family man, and Riggs, a widower, form the obligatory cop/buddy odd couple, bickering at first and then gradually rubbing off on one another. They are assigned to investigate the death of a prostitute who happens to be the daughter of Murtaugh's old army buddy. The men behind the crime are part of the Shadow Company, a clique of drug-dealing Vietnam veterans. After the bad guys kidnap Murtaugh's teen daughter, things get personal, and the cops are forced to play rough.
Is It Any Good?
LETHAL WEAPON is an unsubtle action movie that trades intrigue for visceral emotion. Angst hangs over much of the film. This world is populated with vengeance-crazed murderers and lonely suicides. Writer Shane Black peppers the movie with gallows humor, and veteran action director Richard Donner keeps things lean and mean, refusing to complicate the simple drug-running plot with so much as a twist.
The film caters to the audience's bloodlust, allowing us to relish Riggs' ruthless retribution by making him pay for his sins with his sanity. The violence is justified only in the sense that the bad guys are drug-running murderers and so deserve to die. Gibson excels at playing the dispenser of righteous violence and tragically flawed action hero. Lethal Weapon is suspenseful but never quite achieves the fever pitch of a Die Hard film. It is more interested in justifying violence than making the audience think.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence here. Do you think there's a message here amongst the carnage, or is this simply an action film and not meant to be taken seriously?
How is race used as a comedic device? Families may want to compare and contrast the ways in which race is presented in more recent films such as Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, and Men in Black.
How does this film meet the criteria of the "buddy movie" formula so often employed in movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 6, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : March 25, 1997
- Cast : Danny Glover , Gary Busey , Mel Gibson
- Director : Richard Donner
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Restricted
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : December 22, 2025
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