The Lethal Weapon Masterclass - Lethal Weapon (1987)

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This September is Masterclass month at Catching Up On Cinema!

September is the anniversary month of Catching Up On Cinema, and this year we're celebrating the completion of 5 years of weekly podcasting.

For this year's Masterclass, Trevor and Kyle will be reviewing all 4 films in Richard Donner's Lethal Weapon series of films.

First up this month is a solo review from Trevor of the first film in the series, Lethal Weapon (1987)!

Directed by Richard Donner, written by Shane Black, and produced by Joel Silver, the first Lethal Weapon (1987) is a somewhat darker and moodier experience than the more colorful and energetic sequels, however the chemistry of cast and crew alike are very much evident from minute one of this, the very first in what would become one of the most beloved of buddy cop film franchises.

Starring Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs, and Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh, Lethal is far from the first buddy cop/odd couple films, however many are quick to point out that while it may not have pioneered the genre, it very well may have perfected it.

Despite occasionally dipping into seriously dark subject matter, Richard Donner's direction, and the ever growing cast of immensely affable characters throughout the Lethal Weapon series, exhibit a precious, familial warmth that feels wholly genuine and proves to be the series calling card.

While not as bombastic or violent as John McTiernan's, Die Hard (1988), or indeed any number of other 1980's action films, Lethal Weapon sets itself apart from the rest by squarely placing its focus on characterization and character development.

While Lethal Weapon is a great film in and of itself, it is the first, necessarily darker chapter, in a story that spans 4 films and 10 years, and as a result, this reviewer feels it ultimately benefits greatly from the existence of characterization and story beats contained in its sequels.

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