Lethal Weapon 2

Name: Lethal Weapon 2
Genre: Action, Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: July 7, 1989
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Mel Gibson, Patsy Kensit

1989

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 162 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 162 Ratings

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Lethal Weapon 2

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 7, 1989 | Unrated

Starring: Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Mel Gibson, Patsy Kensit

Summary: Riggs wows the pretties of a hotel spa before getting to Getz. Murtaugh receives bad bodywork news from an auto repairman after his beleaguered station wagon sees some Riggs-piloted street action. Plus, feisty Leo shares a newly included scene in which he recalls a suspect's address by complex spins of numbers that, well, no one can tell itRiggs wows the pretties of a hotel spa before getting to Getz. Murtaugh receives bad bodywork news from an auto repairman after his beleaguered station wagon sees some Riggs-piloted street action. Plus, feisty Leo shares a newly included scene in which he recalls a suspect's address by complex spins of numbers that, well, no one can tell it like Leo. And no one would follow his lead but Riggs and Murtaugh. It's police procedure, Lethal style. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Richard Donner

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 114 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Piantadosi

But no, Lethal Weapon 2 is no artless, autopiloted waste of precious movie-theater air conditioning. It's fun stuff -- crackling, playfully escapist summer fare that doesn't make you feel taken advantage of later. Read full review

Noel Murray

In the wake of Lethal Weapon, producers across Hollywood had started running the buddy-cop concept into the ground, which made 1989’s Lethal Weapon 2 a reminder of how to do this schtick right, with just as much emphasis on loose character interaction as on violent action. Read full review

Caryn James

Before it skids out of control in the final sequence, the film is so careful to preserve its successful comic-action formula that it follows the most basic law of sequels. If you liked ''Lethal Weapon,'' you'll like Lethal Weapon 2; it's almost as simple as that. Read full review

Jay Carr

Sitting through Lethal Weapon 2 is like dating a jackhammer. It's a slick, cynical, high-speed assembly line of car chases, jokes, sex, explosions and blood. [41 Jul 1989, p.41]

Staff (Not Credited)

If there is one thing that I've learned from Stephen Spielberg, and George Lucas it's that the easiest way to win an audience is to employ an antagonist that everyone hates, like the Nazis, or Stormtroopers. Producers Richard Donner and Joel Silver take a lesson in the first sequel to Lethal Weapon and pit Gibson and Glover against fascist dimplomatically-immune South Africans. Read full review

David Ansen

Subtlety is not the draw here: condom jokes and toilet humor alternate with car crashes and machine-gun killings. Yet the movie has a bouncy, comic-book appeal: sadism has rarely been so good-natured. [17 July 1989, p.53]

Richard Corliss

That first movie raised the craft of torture to a low art. Expect no less in LW2, directed by Richard Donner and written by Jeffrey Boam. This installment features a surfboard decapitation, death by carpenter's nail gun, a bomb wired to a very sensitive seat ( and reduction of the Afrikaaner diaspora by about one-half. (24July 1989, p.53)

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User Reviews

Diptanshu

Jun 13, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the greatest Cop thriller/comedy movie ever if not its A Masterpiece!its the perfect sequel it really extend's every aspect into 2X literally in every department it was one step improved the whole movie was full of fun,emotions and amazing intense situations and action packed entertainment.the music was phenomenal,the acting was iconic the duo was legendary and there small fights were hilarious apart from that addition to Joe Pesci the trio was literally legendary fun it was another level hilarious ride with them,the story was amazing and screenplay was great right from the starting chase till the last it was exciting and entertaining ride,the actions scenes were awesome and the greatest thing in this movie the Comedy it was literally Pure art,the starting chase was hilarious and intense and then the whole office intro and technique of untying lase by Martin was amazing.the Advertisement of Roger's Daughter was awkwardly hilarious,the all Joe pesci scenes were legendary and fun,the drug thing and the antagonist's 1st meet at house with the shootout was impact-full and amazing,the love angle of Martin was good and the aftermath at end was dark and sad,the small fights between the gang and whole police's were engaging.the Roger's warned from Gang at start and then the toilet bomb thing was insane and awkward it was unusual and hilarious,then the office showdown and the things getting heat it was great,the whole deaths of police and revenge type thing was dark and brutal the near miss deaths for duo were shocking and amazing.the Dating of Martin resulted in fight and then the escape with the death of lover at last it was dark and shocking then the whole rage mode of Martin and the whole building cracked it was amazing and then the last fight the container escape and the gun fight it was awesome and brutal,the martin's injury or kind-of serious with death or not sure and the conversation of duo at last was emotionally amazing,the ending was mind-blowing,surprising and amazing,the whole movie the duo's friendship was amazingly developed and literally every aspects were enhanced from original it was emotional,dark,sad,too much hilarious,action packed and literally the best cop thriller/comedy ever it's a Masterpiece!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

LoRevisor

Jan 23, 2015

Uma sequência arrasadora.
Mel Gibson E Danny Glover voltam estão ainda melhor a história fica perfeita adicionando Joe Pesci como o irritante mas fiel amigo do sargento riggs e murtaugh. Muita comédia,muitas cenas de ação incríveis. Show de filme...

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Steven1981

Mar 18, 2020

Lethal Weapon 2 made in 1989 by Richard Dinner who's made all four Lethal Weapon movies. Lethal Weapon 2 is by far much better than the original which was good but Lethal Weapon 2 has more magic in it, more action, more style and substance and is genuinely more entertaining than theLethal Weapon 2 made in 1989 by Richard Dinner who's made all four Lethal Weapon movies. Lethal Weapon 2 is by far much better than the original which was good but Lethal Weapon 2 has more magic in it, more action, more style and substance and is genuinely more entertaining than the original. Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Danny Glover (Murtaugh) are back as buddy cops and team up with Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) to bring down a crimeboss and his freaks who are hiding behind diplomatic immunity. The villains are Lethal Weapon 2's weak spot but besides that Lethal Weapon 2 is a great film and Joss Ackland who's the main villain does okay his role. Patsy Kensit gives a sizzling performance but sadly she's killed off later in the film and the action scenes towards the end of the film are simply just fantastic and a beautiful song near the end when the credits are rolling! I give Lethal Weapon 2 a 10/10 rating for being better than the original and by far the best sequel in the series.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

CooterPatooter

Mar 3, 2012

Lethal Weapon 2 represents the rarest of rare Hollywood enigmas: the superior sequel. It's tighter, funnier and more memorable, which is impressive given that the original was already well paced, funny and full of memorable moments. Take a trip back to the 80's and watch these twoLethal Weapon 2 represents the rarest of rare Hollywood enigmas: the superior sequel. It's tighter, funnier and more memorable, which is impressive given that the original was already well paced, funny and full of memorable moments. Take a trip back to the 80's and watch these two excellent action flicks but skip the later two sequels/money grabs.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

hardcorekidd

Aug 3, 2018

South African smugglers find themselves being hounded and harassed by Riggs and Murtaugh, two mismatched Los Angeles police officers. However, the South Africans are protected by diplomatic immunity, and so the two are assigned to witness-protection duty in an attempt by their captain toSouth African smugglers find themselves being hounded and harassed by Riggs and Murtaugh, two mismatched Los Angeles police officers. However, the South Africans are protected by diplomatic immunity, and so the two are assigned to witness-protection duty in an attempt by their captain to keep his job. It is only when this witness reveals to them that he has already dealt with the smugglers that the trouble really starts. Lethal Weapon 2 may sport a thin plot typical of action fare, but its combination of humor and adrenaline, along with the chemistry between its leads, make this a playful, entertaining sequel. I'll give Lethal Weapon 2 an A.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Tokyochuchu

Dec 30, 2012

Lethal Weapon 2 is a marginally superior sequel. The chemistry between the leads is dynamite as usual and Joe Pesci brings new comedic elements to the mix. Lethal Weapon 2 makes for a memorable slice of 80's action.

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FilipeNeto

Sep 15, 2021

I really liked the first movie of the franchise and was very curious to see the rest. So I had some expectations about this film, as is natural and understandable. But what I found is so much weaker that I couldn't avoid feeling disillusioned. Even so, it was a huge success and represented aI really liked the first movie of the franchise and was very curious to see the rest. So I had some expectations about this film, as is natural and understandable. But what I found is so much weaker that I couldn't avoid feeling disillusioned. Even so, it was a huge success and represented a huge financial income for everyone involved, from the studio to the actors. Mission accomplished!

The problem starts where almost all problems start in cinema: the script, written in a fanciful and absurd way. Again, we'll see Murtaugh and Riggs in a new investigation, betting on eliminating an organized crime group that's strongly associated with South Africa, an ostracized country at this time due to the "apartheid". In the midst of all this, without even being immediately understood by the public, the detectives are removed from this case and are going to babysit an important witness. Understood? Not? In fact, it's hard to understand.

In addition to a confusing script based on an absurd premise (the police cannot act against someone protected by diplomatic immunity... they can, but this requires contact with the diplomat's country, in order for immunity to be suspended), the film totally sacrifices the script for tons of unbelievable action filled with explosions, gunfire and destruction. The opening scene is pretty clear on what we're going to find, and the film's climax includes the destruction of an entire house by a single man. The movie is fun, entertains the audience, gives them a lot of action... but it doesn't make much sense.

Again, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover showed up to the characters they had and give us a happy performance. Is it better than the first movie? No, I felt the two actors were lazier here, but the truth is that you only get to feel that once in a while. Joss Ackland was a more irritating villain than a threatening one, but he gives the franchise the first villain worth noting. Joe Pesci, unfortunately, was left with the painful and arduous task of bringing the movie moron to life, and his performance resented that.

Technically, it's a movie where the bet goes completely back to special, visuals and sound effects. It is completely packed with action scenes, each one louder and more spectacular than the last, with explosions, gunfire, destruction and stunts doing a truly well-done and commendable job. The cinematography is regular, it is within what we would expect from a nineties film, and the sets and costumes fulfill their role with dignity. The soundtrack does not deserve any mention.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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