Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 36
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 6
Lethal Weapon 2 may sport a thin plot typical of action fare, but its combination of humor and adrenaline, along with the chemistry between its leads, make this a playful, entertaining sequel.
Average Rating: 7.7/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 0
Lethal Weapon 2 may sport a thin plot typical of action fare, but its combination of humor and adrenaline, along with the chemistry between its leads, make this a playful, entertaining sequel.
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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 229,682
My Rating
Movie Info
This high-voltage sequel continues the adventures of Los Angeles detectives Riggs and Murtaugh (Oscar-winner Mel Gibson and Danny Glover) as they try to thwart a smuggling ring of blond South African "diplomats". Gibson finds romance this time around, and Academy Award- winner Joe Pesci ("GoodFellas," "My Cousin Vinnie") joins the team as fast-talking con artist Leo Getz. "At the Movies" calls this "...Pure dynamite!...a summer blockbuster with enough humor, excitement and action for two
Jul 7, 1989 Wide
Aug 27, 1997
Warner Bros. Pictures
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Cast
-
Mel Gibson
Martin Riggs -
Danny Glover
Roger Murtaugh -
Joe Pesci
Leo Getz -
Joss Ackland
Arjen Rudd -
Derrick O'Connor
Pieter Vorstedt -
Patsy Kensit
Rika Van Den Haas -
Darlene Love
Trish Murtaugh -
Traci Wolfe
Rianne Murtaugh -
Stephen Kahan
Capt. Murphy -
Burbank the Cat
Itself -
Cynthia Burr
Owner of Honda -
Grand L. Bush
Jerry Collins -
Patrick Cameron
Bomb Squad Cop -
Marian Collier
Poolside Card Player -
Jay Della Valle
Poolside Card Player -
Lionel Douglass
Officer Friesen -
Jenette Goldstein
Meagan Shapiro -
Tommy Hinkley
Cop -
Damon Hines
Nick Murtaugh -
Sherman Howard
Hit Man -
David Marciano
Cop -
Jack McGee
Carpenter -
Dean Norris
Tim Cavanaugh -
Jim Piddock
Consulate Envoy -
Mark Rolston
Hans -
Edward J. Rosen
Poolside Card Player -
Sam the Dog
Itself -
Nestor Serrano
Eddie Estaban -
Pat Skipper
Hit Man -
Ebonie Smith
Carrie Murtaugh -
Philip Suriano
Joseph Ragucci -
Kenneth Tigar
Bomb Squad Leader -
Mary Ellen Trainor
Police Psychiatrist -
Paul Tuerpé
Hit Man -
Danny Wynands
Hitman -
Bruce A. Young
Hit Man -
James Oliver
Officer Moss -
Jim Birge
Bomb Squad Cop -
Orlando Bonner
Tow Truck Driver -
Tony Carreiro
Marcelli -
Robert Fol
Consulate Guard -
Catherine Guel
Computer Operator -
Salim Jaidi
Policeman -
Guy Mack
Hit Man -
Jeanne McGuire
Computer Operator -
Philip Maurice Miller
Hit Man -
Allan Dean Moore
George -
Danny Ondrejko
Consulate Clerk -
Virginia Shannon
Consulate Office Worker -
Al Weber Jr.
Poolside Card Player -
Norm Wilson
Detective in Squad Room -
-
Juney Smith
Tom Wyler -
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All Critics (36) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (31) | Rotten (6) | DVD (17)
Loaded with the usual elements, Lethal Weapon 2 benefits from a consistency of tone that was lacking in the first film.
Top CriticBy concentrating on the often frustrating, funny relationship between the three men, the film gains in humour but loses some of the momentum and panache which distinguished the original.
If you liked Lethal Weapon, you'll like Lethal Weapon 2; it's almost as simple as that.
A film with the same off-center invention and wild energy as the original.
You've got your chases, you've got your explosions, you've got your destruction of property and death of innocent bystanders -- all this and bonding too.
It's fun stuff -- crackling, playfully escapist summer fare that doesn't make you feel taken advantage of later.
I've confused a lot of the good things I remember about the first film with good stuff that in actuality happened in the second.
Pesci's terrific comic performance really gooses the proceedings, but the film also works because of its exciting action content, the presence of Patsy Kensit as Riggs' love interest, and the series-best interplay between the two lead characters.
Sequel adds Joe Pesci to the buddy cop formula.
One of the finest examples of the genre, and, in my humble estimation, one of the greatest sequels put to film. Perhaps deranged hyperbole, but rarely does a follow-up outgun the original film as swiftly as Lethal 2 does.
Better than the first!
Returning director Richard Donner seems to have smoothed over the few stylistic rough edges remaining from the earlier film to deliver here two hours of pure, breathless, high-impact entertainment.
Probably the best film in the series to date.
Kick ass sequel
The best-balanced film in the series in terms of excitement and humor. (Blu-ray Collection)
...funnier, more exciting, and more action-packed than the others in the series.
Too jokey and cutesy. This is where the series took a wrong turn toward too much comedy, but the public didn't seem to mind.
Strong, funny sequel
Despite problems with poor characterization and weak plot, Lethal Weapon 2 nevertheless provides a satisfying combination of male bonding, action and humor...
Audience Reviews for Lethal Weapon 2
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Roger Murtaugh: [after killing two assassins with a nail gun] Nailed them!
-
- Roger Murtaugh: Its just been REVOKED!
-
- Roger Murtaugh: It's just been revoked.
Discussion Forum
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Latest News on Lethal Weapon 2
November 3, 2006:
George Miller Discusses the Future of "Mad Max"Mel Gibson recently stated that he wouldn't be returning for any more "Lethal Weapon" or...
October 31, 2006:
Mel Gibson Nixes "Mad Max" and "Lethal Weapon" ReturnsIn a move that surprises absolutely no one and relieves quite a few, Mel Gibson has announced that...
August 7, 2006:
NOW Mel Wants to Do Another "Lethal Weapon"?In a move that might be dismissed as "PR B.S." by many, Mel Gibson (allegedly) wants to...
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Lethal Weapon 2 is just as entertaining, just as fun, just as funny, and just as thrilling as the original. The first one is a classic, but I like this one as much, if not slightly more than the first. The character development from the first one is over, and now it is all action. This actually has more action than the original, and the original had a shit load of action. The two main actors are back, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, along with a new, familiar face; that being Joe Pesci. Whenever Pesci is in a film, you know it's going to be all the more better for having his presence. He plays a different type of character than I am used to seeing from him, but still he's good.
This revolves around the same core plot as the first. Two cops are on a case. This time they are dealing with some South Africans. Also, Riggs falls in love with a secretary that's working for the South African diplomat. The story is even more engaging than the first, in my opinion. It has just about everything movies like this need. As far as buddy cop movies go, it's hard to beat the first two movies in this classic franchise, or it's two cops; Murtaugh and Riggs. This is the cop duo.
This has to be considered another staple of the genre. The first two movies in this series pretty much define the genre. They have all the violence, explosions, and chases that they could possibly throw into the runtime. This movie is slightly longer than the first, but you won't notice. It runs like a sprinter. It starts fast with a chase scene , and doesn't stop until it reaches the finish line.
Martin Riggs: I'm not a cop tonight, Rog. This is personal.