Lethal Weapon 4

Not up to the previous parts, but time stops for no man. Luckily, Lethal Weapon 4 still hasn’t lost its important elements, the action is still really good (the whole opening scene then the opening scene, then the car chase or the skyscraper drive-through are outstanding) and the jokes also still work (just Rock and Pesci unnecessarily overdo it in places). Jet Li is simply unrivalled as a baddy. He really made most of his role here and being on the bad side suits him pretty damn well. Lethal Weapon 4 is not such a blockbuster as the previous parts, but it still is well above average. (30.09.2006)

It may be quite daring, but I believe that the third and fourth films are the best. The story is somewhat sidelined here, and Donner focuses solely on the two main elements of the film: comedy and action, and you can enjoy both in abundance. The director, in fact, serves up absolutely gripping action shot so incredibly clearly that with this film he kicks the asses of most action specialist directors. (28.11.2005)

The plot already lacks originality and the combination of buddy detective movie with family comedy doesn't work like in the great third part, but it's still fun. Chris Rock and Joe Pesci are both for numbers this time, but the attractiveness is greatly enhanced by the villainous butcher Jet Li, who delivers perhaps the best role of his Hollywood career. And you can see from the finale that this series was beloved by everyone involved – and me too, after all. 70% (03.07.2018)

Whether or not the script was rewritten, within the first twenty minutes I appreciatively watched as the film hints, without ado, at the ten subplots it intends to somehow resolve in less than the subsequent ninety minutes. Every scene that might smack of mere episodicity consequently feels like a natural part of the overall narrative. Perhaps the only thing that couldn't be cleaned up was the storyline with the new detective and the father of Murtaugh's daughter's child, played by the insufferable Chris Rock, who was originally supposed to be a gay character, but during filming they found out that it wouldn't work that way, so they hastily made him Roger's sidekick. It's as if Pesci couldn't pull off the role of the whiny, annoying ball at his feet. Except that there's no way around it, Gibson and Glover are still giving it their best it clicks between them like it did in the old days. Although age and change of character have really taken their toll on Riggs in particular. Still, the four get the most points again, from an honest load of imaginative action, created with childlike creativity. (28.04.2019)

It is definitely visible that there is a qualitative decline here, but that is simply because there weren't many ideas left that could work. Gibson's and Glover's characters seem somewhat exhausted and the new blood doesn't really save it much. However, I still think that this is an above-average comedy thriller, which is an interesting combination. Jet Li is absolutely fabulous. (12.03.2015)