THE MAGIC IS BACK AGAIN!

As Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is about to retire from the LAPD, he and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) become involved in the hunt for a former cop turned ruthless arms dealer.

The second sequel is loose around the edges, making it an unwieldy and silly experience. That Richard Donner still holds it together quite well is remarkable, but he knows what the fans crave. The action is entertaining, the two leads are having fun and the franchise gets a shot in the arm from Rene Russo as a tough internal affairs detective (in a memorable scene comparing battle scars with Riggs).

Stuart Wilson’s bad guy is pretty anonymous, but still appropriately evil.

1992-U.S. 115 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Richard Donner. Song: “It’s Probably Me” (performed by Sting, Eric Clapton). Cast: Mel Gibson (Martin Riggs), Danny Glover (Roger Murtaugh), Joe Pesci (Leo Getz), Rene Russo (Lorna Cole), Stuart Wilson, Steve Kahan. 

Trivia: Followed by Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).