Arma letal

Not that funny, not that action-packed, but quite well balanced nonetheless. Either way, the first Lethal Weapon failed to really grow on me, and I prefer watching the later installments. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover make a solid duo and complement each other excellently, but there is relatively little action, and it doesn't make a big splash in the world. It's nice to see Gary Busey again in the role of a villain, and his final brawl on the lawn, as well as Gibson's character's suicidal tendencies gazing at a photo of his wife, and the the opening scene are noteworthy. Otherwise, it's a typical American action fairy tale. I prefer Die Hard. The rating is somewhere between three and four stars. (21.04.2007)

Outrageous crap with a sparse script and tons of strange lines, but the Glover-Gibson acting package is incredibly fun, light, natural and original. Although it's an amalgam of manly bullshit, action clichés, and thoughtless humor, the interplay of the title pair elevated Donner's film two classes higher. Personally, I like the scenes from the Murtaugh household, which resemble a family sitcom and contrast wonderfully with the other face of the film – the rough action "detective story". It's hard to imagine a better action relax than Lethal Weapon: it's undemanding, soullessly funny and delightfully cheesy. (17.10.2005)

I truly adored this duo back in the day. I must say, even after years, I immensely enjoy them. Moreover, Donner showed that he always had the ability to make a proper action spectacle with excellent scenes. Shane Black's screenplay is one of his best ever written. And Gibson and Glover are simply captivating characters. (10.03.2015)

Donner and Black's old-school attempt at a gritty urban western that veered away from its original vibe with subsequent installments, which is probably the fault of the unique and, for me and probably for the filmmakers, unexpected chemistry between the leads. I love the world of six-wheelers, honking horns, dirty streets, fast food joints, and blood on the tarmac, so for me this is the strongest installment. (22.04.2019)

A great first part of a series of genius. A clever screenplay and Donner’s superb directing, with a clutch of great actors. Mel Gibson is invincible as Martin Riggs. His performance as a total lunatic and miserable cop is flawless and you can see that spark of madness in Riggs’ fits of emotion. And it’s full of unforgettable lines and gags that make me laugh even for the twentieth time. A classic. (09.09.2006)