Lethal Weapon 4
Lethal Weapon 4

Movie spotlight

Lethal Weapon 4

1998
Movie
127 min
English

With personal crises and age weighing in on them, Riggs and Murtaugh must contend with deadly Chinese triads trying to free their former leaders from prison and onto American soil.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes51%
Metacritic57/100
Google Users72%
Director: Richard DonnerGenres: Action, Crime, Thriller

Plot Summary

Detectives Riggs and Murtaugh are back for their final adventure, this time facing off against a ruthless Chinese triad smuggling counterfeit currency and humans into the United States. They team up with LAPD detective Lee Buttermaker and the returning Leo Getz to uncover the conspiracy, which involves a dangerous new villain and unexpected betrayals. The aging detectives must confront their own mortality and the changing world around them while protecting their families and bringing the criminals to justice.

Critical Reception

Lethal Weapon 4 was met with mixed reviews from critics, with many finding it to be a formulaic and less inspired entry in the franchise compared to its predecessors. While the action sequences and the chemistry between the leads were still praised, the plot was often criticized for being convoluted and the new villains less compelling. Audience reception was generally more positive, appreciating the return of the familiar characters and the trademark blend of action and humor.

What Reviewers Say

  • While still featuring entertaining action and the camaraderie of Gibson and Glover, the film suffers from a tired plot and a lack of originality.

  • The introduction of Jet Li as the villain is a highlight, but the overall story feels like a rehash of previous installments.

  • Despite its flaws, the movie delivers expected explosions and witty banter, offering a nostalgic ride for fans.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed Lethal Weapon 4 for its familiar action-packed formula and the returning chemistry of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. However, many felt the plot was predictable and not as strong as earlier films in the series, with some also finding the new characters less engaging.

Fun Fact

The role of the primary antagonist, Wah Sing Ku, was originally offered to Jackie Chan, but he turned it down due to concerns about playing a villain and his demanding schedule.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

With their joints creaking almost as much as the script, this instalment of the franchise sees “Riggs” (Mel Gibson) and “Murtaugh” (Danny Glover) start they way they mean to go on - pyrotechnically! This time, it’s the encroaching Triad gan...