Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Lethal Weapon 4’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and that always applies to our favorite franchises, since at some point or another they will come to their logical conclusion. But why they end, is important to ponder upon. For a great many franchises end in unfortunate fashion, wherein the writing is sub-par, which leads to awful and over the top stories that pull the audience out of the experience and this is something we’ve seen time and time again. Where a once proud franchise is remembered for its shoddy and ridiculous sequels and just like that, it fades away from our radar, only to be remembered fondly on home video or a streaming service.
 
But believe it or not, from time to time, there are franchises that actually end on a high note. In a manner that features decent writing, which allows for the finale in question to bring everyone’s journey to a quality and respectful ending, one that leaves the audience happy. And sometimes they end, not because of fatigue or overexposure, but because it is the right time for everyone involved in the saga to say goodbye, allowing for the story in question to end on its own terms and truly, there is no greater ending than that. As it turns out, this is precisely how the Lethal Weapon franchise was able to come to a close and going out on top is what makes Lethal Weapon 4 a surprisingly satisfying finale, despite its minor flaws.
 
Now we will talk about those flaws a little later on, because first and foremost, I want to take a moment discuss how exactly this franchise ended in stylish and satisfying fashion. And it accomplished that particular feat by acknowledging something that few franchises or stories in general do, in that; life goes on and eventually we move into new phases of it, thanks to the work we’ve put in. Something that is embodied by the journey of our heroes. Take for example Roger Murtaugh’s arc here, since he watches his daughter’s voyage into adulthood reach its completion by way of her pregnancy and the reality that he is about to become a grandfather adds some genuine depth to Roger’s arc in this entire series. Since he is now the true patriarch of a massive family, one that includes people he never expected to be a part of said family, and he’s helped them grow along the way in fine fashion. 

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​For proof of that, look no further than Martin Riggs’ journey in this tale. Because the Riggs we meet in this entry, is quite the functional and responsible adult. He’s cut his hair and he handles his business like a pro and he’s once again in a successful relationship with a baby on the way and this is just… powerful stuff to see. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Riggs was ready to end his life in violent fashion, and he was taking all kinds of risks to end the pain surging through his heart. But Roger’s care and friendship brought him back from the brink and we’ve slowly watched Martin become a better man for it and really, his arc here and his decision to let his wife go and move on in life with Lorna is beautiful when all is said and done. Because it shows us that things do get better over time, and people do heal with the right support system around them and when they do, they can find the happiness they’ve so desperately searched for.
 
But while that makes for some feel good entertainment for certain, I did make mention of some flaws in this motion picture and those are unfortunately related to the plot. Because this story provides us with our first one-dimensional baddie in this franchise since Wan Sing Ku only exists to wail on people and really has no plan outside of getting his hands on the Hongs and that’s a shame since every villain that preceded him offered so much more than angry looks toward the camera, and that also wastes Li’s skills as an actor. Plus, the case in and of itself feels like an afterthought at times and much of the investigation gives way to opportunities for the cast to ad-lib and offer up some chuckles. And while there are indeed some hard laughs to be found during these sequences, such as the scene involving nitrous oxide, it’s unfortunate that a series known for quality villains and engrossing cases saves its weakest one for last.
 
However, the strong performances in this story, and the proper wrap up of eleven years of storytelling allows for one to forgive any missteps in this tale. Because you really do get to say a proper goodbye to everyone that you’ve come to know and love in this story, since this genuinely was the grand finale of a series that took on us quite the wild ride, and it really is touching to see that great care went into giving these iconic characters a solid send off, by way of plenty of what the audience loves. Because the action is sublime, and the comedy feels as natural as ever. If anything, I’m just glad that this saga came to a close on its own terms and that we don’t have to reflect upon films that were just awful in nature, and while Lethal Weapon did return briefly as a television series, the strange moments surrounding that series and its sanitized quality don’t diminish what this film franchise accomplished in the slightest and its one that I revisit often. Simply because it was a police saga unlike any other and truly, I don’t think the wonder of this one will ever be replicated again. 

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