I recently went on a binge–though an unplanned and unexpected one–where I watched a trio of sequels to classic movies from the 1980’s in the span of less than a month. And while this review in particular is going to be primarily about the most recent one I watched (Lethal Weapon 2), I’m going to be touching on all three in bits since it was a nice little coincidence. And I want to compare how they fared against each other.

All three of these sequels being a first time watch is something of a surprise, sure, but probably not as much as this part: It’s only within the last five years that I first watched any of their predecessors, either!

The three movies I am talking about are Lethal Weapon 2, Die Hard 2, and Beverly Hills Cop 2.

Let’s start with the lede: I watched Lethal Weapon a few years ago and quite enjoyed it. I thought it had its bugs–to me, the most interesting part was Riggs’ suicidal tendencies in the wake of his life’s tragedy, and the movie basically forgets about those in the second and third act–but it was quite a fun ride with a great pair of lead actors who redefined buddy cop chemistry.

Lethal Weapon 2 kicks right into gear with Riggs and Murtaugh in a high speed chase after a drug bust has gone awry. After the chase concludes. they find one of the vehicles full of gold Krugerrands, and the story moves on from there: where did they come from? What are they doing in Los Angeles?

It isn’t long before our heroes find out that a South African diplomat is behind the Krugerrands… and a lot more. He flashes his diplomatic immunity in Riggs’ and Murtaugh’s faces as he knows he is running a crime syndicate in their full view.

Along the way, the heroes pick up Joe Pesci’s Leo Getz as their own little third wheel. He is a snitch with info on the syndicate, and he helps them put together the pieces they need to continue crawling up Rudd’s ass as they try to find a way to bring them down.

And before it’s all over, Riggs dramatically finds out that one of Rudd’s men has ties into his own past…

But that’s not all! I also, as noted, watched Die Hard 2 for The Pint: A Pop Culture Podcast! This was a return for me for their Summertime Blockbusters series this year, as several Christmases ago, I watched Die Hard for my first time for a holiday episode.

Die Hard 2 is basically Die Hard, but with a less interesting villain, and in an airport instead of a business tower. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s biggest failing is being a sequel to DIE HARD, which is a top 5 action movie of all time. It just can’t compare to its own forefather.

John McClane himself even muses in the movie–a movie which recycles a LOT of set pieces and bits from Die Hard itself–that it’s impossible for one man to get caught in the same details, at the same holiday, twice in the span of a few years. Movie, pointing out your weaknesses doesn’t make them okay!

Still, McClane at this point in his life was still an everyman who experiences human emotions and reactions, and I quite dug this sequel, warts and all.

That leaves us with Beverly Hills Cop 2. On a whim, I watched Beverly Hills Cop a few years ago, and I thought it was a blast. Eddie Murphy was a star, and the hilarity more than made up for what I thought was just mediocre action.

Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills when the captain there is put in the hospital. Axel is determined to find out the culprit! As he teams back up with his detective buddies there, they move through the underworld and solve the plot.

Unfortunately, BHC2 loses a LOT of the luster from the original. The excitement is still fairly middling, but the comedy all but falls off a cliff. It feels like it only has one trick this time, and it puts it on repeatedly. Murphy is trying his best, but the writing REALLY lets him down.

TWO UPS AND TWO DOWNS (Just for Lethal Weapon 2)

+ Lethal Weapon 2 hits a moment where the mood changes and the light-hearted hunt becomes much more serious and dramatic. Such changes in tone can be very hard to pull off, but Donner and his actors do it extremely well here. 

A weaker team would not have known how to transition as well as this flick does. But fortunately, we have real pros behind and in front of the camera, and I bought the mood change wholesale.

+ Mel Gibson and Danny Glover remain a likable and powerful pair of stars with stellar chemistry. The addition of Joe Pesci doesn’t slow them down at all, either, as he fits flawlessly into their dynamic. 

There’s nothing I can add that hasn’t already been said about Gibson and Glover; they’re great in these flicks and everyone knows that. But I love comedic Joe Pesci, and he shines here. His character has some great delivery and moments, and it feels like he always belonged in this franchise.

– Arjun Rudd is not the best cinematic villain. He’s not on a physical level to be a direct threat. And his diplomatic immunity (“DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY!”) isn’t really played well, as they just fucking shoot him in the head. 

I was really hoping to see how our heroes would trip up Rudd and get around his diplomatic immunity, but… nope. That’s not what happens. I can only assume Lethal Weapon 3 starts off with our duo in jail for murdering a diplomat. Right?

(I mean… maybe it does! I haven’t seen it yet)

– I could have used just a bit more of Dean Norris and the other fellow cops before they get assassinated. Their deaths had very little emotional impact because we barely know them. 

OVERALL

I can absolutely see why some folks like Lethal Weapon 2 more than part 1. And I think I count myself among their numbers. This sequel felt earned, and it has the sense of being a slightly more complete movie overall. Don’t get me wrong: I like Lethal Weapon… but I loved Lethal Weapon 2.

And since this is the 80’s Sequel Edition, for clarity’s sake, if I’m calling LW2 an 8/10, then Die Hard 2 is a 6.5/10, and Beverly Hills Cop 2 is a… whoof… let’s go with a 4/10. I can’t imagine many people preferring either of these to what came before, though Die Hard 2 was still quality.