Yes. “Lethal Weapon” (1987) is a Christmas Movie, it just happens to be one of the best 80s action movies of all time. Well, maybe not all-time, but it’s up there with “Die Hard” (1988), “Commando” (1985), “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984), and “The Terminator” (1984). Anyone who says otherwise is simply wrong, and I cannot fathom a world where this is not a statement of fact. As for why this movie is of the Christmas genre, the opening credits feature Bobby Helm’s “Jingle Bell Rock.” And in this article, “Lethal Weapon” is a Christmas movie, end of story.
Ahem, where was I? “Lethal Weapon” follows two detectives, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), as they investigate the suicide of a Los Angeles woman. This woman, who was the daughter of Michael Hunsaker (Tom Atkins), a comrade of Murtaughs during the Vietnam War, became addicted to drugs. However, her death is determined to be poisoning, ordered by a drug-trafficking organization.
Riggs is a Los Angeles Police Department detective who is on the edge, following a car accident that claimed his late wife. Murtaugh is an older, family man, who simply just wants to make it long enough to get his pension for his work in law enforcement.
The dynamic of Riggs and Murtaugh is the best thing that the movie has to offer. Riggs’ sharp, and even, deranged personality contrasts nicely with Murtaugh’s laid back and more calculated approach. While some could say that Riggs is a bit unorthodox and even does some questionable legal acts, his desire to bring the murderers to justice is unquestioned.
In the movie, Murtaugh coined the phrase: “I’m too old for this sh*t.” This is a phrase that can apply to numerous scenarios:
My dog took a dump on my carpet: I’m too old for this sh*t. During the college football season, ESPN took its networks off of YouTube TV in a contract dispute with Google: I’m too old for this sh*t. My favorite NFL team has the most mind-numbingly boring and uninspiring offense that sucks the life out of me, and may take years off my life: I’m too old for this sh*t.
To get back to the movie, as Riggs and Murtaugh search for the killers, they end up at a friend of the victims’ house, which they hope can provide information about the victim and potential suspects. As they close in on the house, an explosive is set off, destroying the house and killing the potential witness, cutting off a loose end. While investigating the explosion, Riggs discovers a mercury switch, which he recognizes from his days in special forces during the Vietnam War. He suspects that the organization is dangerous, which is confirmed when Murtaugh questions a young boy who witnessed the explosion. The boy said that a tall, white man, entered the property and likely rigged the explosives. This man had a special forces tattoo, similar to one that Riggs had on his arm, which confirmed his suspicions.
After this key piece of evidence is discovered, Riggs and Murtaugh focus their eyes towards Hunsaker, where they discover that business with a private military group was the reason for his daughter’s killing. When Riggs and Murtaugh return from their meeting with Hunsaker, they discover that Murtaugh’s daughter, Rianne (Traci Wolfe), has been kidnapped by the private military group to drag the detectives into a trap. This is where the movie really turns it up a notch, as Murtaugh is driven towards more unorthodox methods that Riggs suggests, to rescue his daughter.
“Lethal Weapon” takes the buddy cop genre, which was done well in previous renditions like “48 Hours” (1982) and “Running Scared” (1986), and adds a creative twist, being Riggs’ bizarre and chaotic personality. While technically not a Christmas movie, by most standards, the movie ends with a Christmas dinner, so you be the judge. “Lethal Weapon” is a movie about friendship, passion, most importantly, family, all things that drive the Christmas spirit.