Lethal Weapon 2
1989 · Directed by Richard Donner
Original language: English
- action
- thriller
- crime
The story
Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.
What it’s like
Bright Southern California daylight and sun-bleached beaches give way to sodium-lit nights, warm amber interiors and grimy urban corners, shot in the glossy, saturated 35mm style of late-eighties studio action. Camera work is brisk and mobile, with quick cuts, wide establishing shots of the city and punchy, staged set pieces rather than long contemplative takes. The score is driven by synth-and-brass pop-action cues that swell through chases and gunfights, while dialogue between the two leads is loud, jokey and overlapping. The vibe is brash, sun-warmed and cheerfully aggressive, with a rowdy buddy-comedy streak undercutting the bloodshed. Violence is frequent and sometimes bloody, with gunfire, explosions, car crashes, martial arts brawls and a few brutal beatings; there is some sexual innuendo and strong language, but no sustained gore or cruelty. Good for a loud, fast-moving Friday night or a nostalgic rewatch, suited to people who want buddy banter, showdowns and a sense of 1980s blockbuster swagger.
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