Roger Murtaugh is an ageing family man and a sensible veteran police officer just trying to make it through the day unscathed. Martin Riggs is a suicidal loose cannon cop who doesn't care if he even lives to see the end of the day. Reluctantly thrown together to solve the mysterious murder of a banker's daughter, the unlikely duo uncovers a dangerous ring of drug smugglers employing ex-military mercenaries. After a tragic turn of events, the mission becomes personal and the mismatched investigators must learn to trust one another as they wage a two-man war against a deadly criminal organization. I loved this buddy cop film and this is certainly one that shaped the subgenre going forward. The 80s really seemed to like their non-traditional Christmas films and, it seems, for festive action movies too. If you enjoyed this film then you will also love Die Hard (1988) which is another action-oriented unconventional Christmas flick. We follow two different cops who have very different ways of thinking and lifestyles but are going to need to put them aside to solve this crime. Our heroic duo is Roger Murtaugh (played by Danny Glover) and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Every moment these two are on screen together I know I am in for a treat. Their contrasting ways of working and living lead to so many hilarious, as well as heartfelt, moments that make them such an enjoyable team. Murtaugh is constantly reminded of his age and the danger he's constantly in, which becomes quite frequent with his new suicidal loose cannon maverick cop partner, Riggs. I so enjoy when Riggs would do something so reckless that it sends Murtaugh into a frenzy, causing him to shout a lot and panic. This was certainly the case during the scene where Riggs helps a man about to jump off a building by handcuffing himself to the guy and jumping for him to safety, where he is left laughing and the guy screaming to be cut loose from him. From there Murtaugh goes ballistic shouting at him which always cracks me up. Especially when he brings out his iconic line said in all 4 films, "I'm too old for this shit!" Both actors do a fantastic job and show off their skills throughout. I love how Mel Gibson can switch from a helpful officer to a crazy wide-eyed madman in the next. Danny Glover's frequent breakdowns and worried expressions are so good never failing to make me laugh. This can be said for all their interactions as the comedy element of this film is just as great as the action. My other favourite part has to be the shooting range scene. This displays both of the duo's shooting skills but most especially that of Riggs' who manages to shoot out a smiley face on Murtaugh's headshot target, from the furthest distance. Each shares a huge deal of character development throughout their time together and helps one another out as their mission goes on, even when Murtaugh's family gets involved in the mess. The action sequences in this film are amazing and very extreme. I mean they take matters into their own hands and the way things get done is definitely not how the police do things. Seeing a 1v1 between Riggs and villain Joshua in a full-on fist fight, after throwing down their guns, was very thrilling. Many brutal shootouts also take place, alongside some torture. This film warrants its 18 rating for sure. Overall, this is a superb movie that balances action, comedy, thriller and crime perfectly, creating the ideal buddy cop flick. The characters are entertaining and engaging with plenty of enjoyable banter. Even better this counts as some non-traditional Christmas viewing being set during the season and there being many Christmas lights, trees, songs and decorations scattered everywhere. It makes for some extra viewing, but can be watched all year round. Finally, this film deserves a watch simply for Riggs' marvellous mullet. I mean look at it, such a sight! Also, check out the sequel for more action in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).
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