Lethal Weapon 4

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

The characters remain funny and likable, and they all live on Earth.

Variety Leonard Klady

The quintessence of the buddy cop pic, "LW4" is big on action, playful banter and just enough plot to keep our attention from wandering.

San Francisco Examiner Barbara Shulgasser

I think the script by television writer Channing Gibson (no relation) is the funniest of them all.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

One could argue about which "Lethal Weapon'' is the best, but No. 4 is certainly the funniest, warmest and most idiosyncratic.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

It's a calculated formula for success, and makes for entertaining viewing, but those expecting something with the spark of the first two pictures may be disappointed.

LA Weekly Paul Malcolm

The old hands still seem to be having a good time, so why the hell shouldnít we?

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

This movie is exceptionally brutal, cruel, savage and without conscience -- and that's just the comic parts. In contrast, the violent action sequences are quite entertaining.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Danny Glover and Mel Gibson make a gently contrasted (and nicely self-reflexive) odd couple in this action-comedy sequel.

Newsweek David Ansen

Richard Donner's sequel is more than eager to please -- it's desperate.

Empire Andrew Collins

Part 4, to its credit, is the noisiest. Disappointingly, it's also the worst: not bad, just not as good.

Film Threat Ron Wells

Don't get your expectations up, but "LW4" is a decent enough date film.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

At the Lethal Weapon plant, what you see, after 11 years, are the rusting remnants of a once innovative model.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

The movie has homophobic touches, though, and with so many Asian characters, some viewers may wonder why every single one is portrayed as either a hapless victim or a wicked villain.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Lethal Weapon 4 has all the technical skill of the first three movies in the series, but lacks the secret weapon, which was conviction.

The New Yorker Bruce Diones

It's take-the-money-and-run filmmaking, with the actors practically winking their dialogue at each other, and it's all supposed to be tongue-in-cheek fun. It isn't.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Cynical and contemptuous of its audience, this lazy sequel oozes an insufferable air of self-satisfaction.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

The most lethal weapon of all turns out to be the script.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Stephen Thompson

It's a dead end to a franchise that should have been put to rest two movies ago.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

The result is a calculated, cynical piece of business that epitomizes the creative bankruptcy and contempt for the audience that infects so much of the blockbuster side of Hollywood.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Not only is the franchise growing hoary, by now it's become downright laughable, leaving Lethal Weapon 4 feeling more like a bad Fox sitcom than anything else.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

A stupid and violent delicacy, congealed nachos and Mountain Dew for the Beavis-and-Butt-head set.