Well, here's another disappointed review from Lethal Weapon 4, and like the other reviews that haven't come from Barbara's Brigade on the Warner Lot (hey hon, you have employees that don't like writing fake reviews), it's not all cheery. Of course this reviewer likes it more than ARMAGEDDON, but then dismisses ARMAGEDDON so who knows? Ultimately I'm in line on Friday, and I'll be seeing it along with the crowds, same as Hallenbeck. We've stayed away from LW4, and now we'll see this weekend. So let's get on to the Picedog review...
Just got back from the Lethal Weapon 4 premiere, and I must say that I am not as thrilled as the others in the audience seemed to be.
As has been listed several times before on your site, the film deals with Riggs and Murtaugh grappling with Chinese mobsters and counterfeiters, Pregnant family members (Murtaugh's daughter and Lorna by Riggs), Riggs dealing with the aging process as well as an overall theme of the importance of family.
Pretty much the same old stuff here, and one has to wonder how it just so happens that a boat loaded with Chinese mobsters shooting at each other just happens to graze the boat of Riggs and Murtaugh. Of course those Mobsters are involved in a very large operation which would bring four very powerful Chinese mob leaders into the country.
A lot of great action and of course the usual comical interludes featuring Pesci, Gibson, Glover and Rock. There is a classic interchange dealing with cell phones between Pesci and Rock which is probably the funniest bit in the movie. Also, all the action scenes involving Jet Li are incredible...although the ending goes a little bit too far (one could use the word ridiculous to describe it).
There seems to be several sub-plots running at once, like one that involves Murtaugh being suspected of being on the take, which don't seem to mix well with the main storyline. Also, Lorna is very much wasted, just showing up periodically to remind us that Riggs is about to be a father and she gets to punch a guy and shoot another. Pesci as well just serves as a comic device and contributes very little (one could say nothing), that is until the end when he provides Riggs with some advice in an overly melodramatic scene which is honestly laughable.
I loved the first one, and enjoyed the second....but thought that the third was very lame. This one is better than 3 but is extremely forgettable. It should make a bundle of cash, not that it actually deserves it (only if it gets Jet Li more stateside recognition), but I am guessing it is more worthy than ARMAGEDDON of box office bounty.
The party afterwards was okay...but Jet Li looks a lot younger in person than in the movie. Also (as guessed by the usual Asian stereotype) he is extremely short!
If you print this....just call me Kenny Pice...the PICEDOG!
