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(More customer reviews)An explosive beginning once again kicks off the action for our favorite team of Los Angeles Detectives, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, in Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon 4," starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. In this fourth installment of the popular action/drama series, the pair are confronted with a murderous Chinese Triad with links to Hong Kong, that deals in counterfeiting and the smuggling of illegals into the country, where their new lives become nothing more than virtual slavery. It's a subject that touches a nerve with Murtaugh (Glover), which brings about an irrational decision when he thinks he can help. But not to worry; Riggs (Gibson) is there to back him up, and together they take on one of their most formidable opponents yet, Wah Sing Ku (Jet Li), head of the Triad, who happens to be in the process of discharging a personal agenda from which he will not be deterred. And making matters all the more complicated, Riggs and Murtaugh each have personal issues of their own to deal with: Murtaugh with his daughter, Rianne (Traci Wolfe), and Riggs with Lorna Cole (Rene Russo), the first woman with whom he's had a long standing relationship since the death of his wife. With three highly successful "Lethal" outings under their belts, it would have been easy for director Donner and his stars to phone this one in, make a few bucks and move on. But not these guys; Refusing to rest on their laurels, they deliver yet another exceptional, action-packed movie that maintains the quality and consistency of the first three. Gibson and Glover manage to take their characters to yet another level, keeping it all fresh and refusing to cruise through the comfort zone on auto pilot. Russo, as well, turns in another winning performance; she and Gibson really click together, rivaling the kind of chemistry Bogie and Bacall brought to the screen. Their relationship is extremely well developed and handled with skill by Donner, as is the entire story; it all moves ahead quickly and is never allowed to slow down or meander, which keeps the emotional level and tension high throughout the film. The action is possibly the best of any of the series, with some sequences so good they deserve comparison to John Woo's best. Jet Li is absolutely dynamic, and brings a real sense of menace to his character of Ku. For the first time, you get the feeling that Riggs and Murtaugh may be up against more than they can handle by themselves. And even with all this series has going for it already, in this one they manage to introduce yet another character that adds even more to their formula for success: Chris Rock joins the team as Lee Butters, the next generation of law enforcement, an officer with a degree in psychology. He adds some humor to the proceedings, but more than that, he makes Butters likable and seems to have an immediate grasp of who he is and where he fits in. And fit in well he does, essentially becoming the third member of the team. Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) is back as well, this time as a private investigator still trying his best to ingratiate himself with his friends, Riggs and Murtaugh. Interestingly enough, one of the more touching scenes in the film (near the end) develops during a conversation between Getz and Riggs, one that offers the audience (as well as Riggs) some insight into what makes Getz tick. The supporting cast includes Steve Kahan (Capt. Murphy), Darlene Love (Trish), Eddy Ko (Hong) and Mary Ellen Trainor, reprising her role of Police Psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Woods for the fourth time. Working from another exceptionally well written script (this time by Channing Gibson), Donner and Company have scored yet another triumph with "Lethal Weapon 4," which can stand on it's own, or as a part of one of the best action/drama series ever made. Which one of the four is the best? Toss a coin; these are movies the way they ought to be made.
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This sequel involves an action packed battle with a Chinese ganglord.
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