Lethal Weapon 2 Movie Review 421

Lethal Weapon 2 is a 1989 action sequel directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci.

The movie begins with Riggs(Gibson) and Murtaugh(Glover) working on a case involving South African gold. They are put off the case by a South African diplomat,Arjen Rudd(Joss Ackland) and his sidekick, Pieter Vorstedt(Derrick O' Connor) and Murtaugh gets a bomb in his house and just escapes with his life. The two cops have to look after an irritating witness called Leo Getz(Pesci) instead. The two cops know that Rudd is dodgy and that he has something to do with smuggling but he is a diplomat they can't touch him. Leo gets attacked and it turns out that he has something to do with the South Africans too.

Riggs isn't happy that Rudd seems to be getting away with his shady dealings and he sets out to harass him where he can. He meets Rudd's secretary, Rika van den Haas(Patsy Kensit) and they have a connection. They become close.Vorstedt is on the warpath and he is determined to kill all of the cops on the case. That includes Riggs and Murtaugh. They manage to kidnap Getz and Vorstedt gets Riggs and Rika. He kills her by drowning and he throws Riggs in after her, but he manages to survive. It turns out that Vorstedt was responsible for the death of Riggs' wife as it was meant to be him in the car. This makes Riggs want vengeance and he gets ready to take Rudd and Vorstedt down.

He tells Murtaugh what has happened and his partner agrees to help him no matter what. They go to the house where Leo is being held and they wreak havoc. They get Leo back and then they chase Rudd and Vorstedt who think that they can get away. They end up at the docks and there is a battle between Riggs and Vorstedt which results in Riggs dropping a shipping container on top of him, ending the fight! Riggs gets shot by Rudd but Murtaugh steps in and shoots him dead despite his diplomatic immunity. Murtaugh waits with Riggs as help turns up.

I liked this movie. It was all action and Gibson was great as usual. I liked all of the cast and the story was pretty standard, but good fun. This and the first movie are my favourites. Somehow three and four didn't hit the same heights. Joss Ackland was great as the slimy diplomat who thought that he was above the law. Pesci was great as the really annoying witness who never shuts up! All in all, this film is a great 1980's actioner. I recently watched it after many years and it is still great even after all these years. I will give it an 8/10.