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Mel Gibson, an actor known for his intense performances in action cinema, has delivered unforgettable characters and gripping narratives throughout his career. From the Academy Award-winning performance as a Scottish warrior In ‘Braveheart’ to directing ‘Apocalypto’ and the award-winning war epic ‘Hacksaw Ridge’, Gibson has made a name for himself in treading the fine line between raw emotion and outright explosions. Yet even stars are not above reproach, and one sequence from earlier in his career has lived in infamy for being particularly bad regarding firearm techniques.
In the 1987 action classic ‘Lethal Weapon’, Gibson stars as Martin Riggs, a volatile and suicidal LAPD Narcotics Sergeant. Teamed with Danny Glover’s straight-laced detective Roger Murtaugh, the odd couple struggles through explosive action to take down a lethal drug-smuggling operation. Helmed by Richard Donner, the film became a cornerstone in the buddy-cop genre and spawned a successful franchise, with *Lethal Weapon 5* on its way.
One especially memorable scene in the movie includes a shooting range scene where Riggs shows off his skills to Murtaugh by carving a smiley face into a target with his pistol. While the scene is undeniably fun, firearms expert Patrick McNamara panned it with a blistering 1 out of 10 for realism in an action movie breakdown with ‘Insider’. According to McNamara, the scene is riddled with problems that would make any professional marksman cringe.
McNamara decried Riggs’ gun handling for a litany of transgressions, including terrible trigger discipline, flinching with every shot, and shutting his eyes. He calls Riggs' form “cringeworthy,” noting that the character’s erratic technique and implausible accuracy make the marksmanship on display unrealistic. McNamara’s assessment really puts into view how over-the-top bravado in Riggs’ shooting form makes this scene a perfect example of what not to do with a firearm.
The shooting range scene nevertheless captures the over-the-top swagger that defines Gibson’s version of Riggs, inescapably unhinged energy perfectly modulated by Glover’s gravity and anchoring. This new type of mismatched police pairings was born out of this, and there was no denying the chemistry that would have made this scene charmingly undeniable: the moment when the top heaviness of the film blended with the character dynamics of the film.
While the marksmanship on display is far from believable, the scene nonetheless reveals the balance of chaos and comradery that made ‘Lethal Weapon’ such a genre-defining hit. Even flawed action can be fun, and the movie’s over-the-top inclinations and character dynamics will continue to resonate with its audience.
