--- title: "Lethal Weapon 2: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon-2/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon-2" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Lethal Weapon 2 (1989): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 9 reviews: 4 positive, 4 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified approval, with praise clustering around Mel Gibson and Danny Glover’s rapport. Their convincing bond helps both the comedy and the action, and even less enthusiastic critics regard their shared charisma as a strength. The more positive reviews also credit the script’s pace and humour, finding enough energy and involvement to make the sequel entertaining rather than merely busy. The spread is moderate, but the critics disagree sharply over how well the comedy sits alongside the violence. Variety finds the tone more consistent than in the first film, while Radio Times objects to an uneven script and an awkward mixture of laughs and brutality. The Los Angeles Times offers the clearest dissent, acknowledging professional craftsmanship but finding the result hollow and overblown. Reservations elsewhere include weak supporting performances, though these generally qualify the praise rather than overturn it. ## Empire — Anne Thompson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Thompson finds the sequel exhilarating and unusually engaging for its genre. She praises the twisting script for sustaining the action while deepening the bond between the two cops. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lethal-weapon-2-review/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1988. The review finds the sequel more tonally consistent and entertaining than the first film. It especially praises the humor and the onscreen rapport between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1988/film/reviews/lethal-weapon-2-1200427931/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lethal-weapon-2-1989) ## Time Out — CM Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The available text gives no clear overall verdict. It singles out the high-speed chase, explosive crash and helicopter rescue as action highlights. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/lethal-weapon-2) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 1989. The review’s verdict cannot be determined from the accessible page. Its specific praise or criticism is likewise unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/07/movies/review-film-chases-crashes-shootings-more-in-lethal-weapon-2.html) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 3/5. Jones calls it the weakest entry in the cop series, criticizing its inconsistent script and awkward mix of comedy and violence. He praises the continuing rapport between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and finds Joe Pesci entertaining. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-u1781y/lethal-weapon-2/) ## Los Angeles Times — MICHAEL WILMINGTON Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 1989. Wilmington finds the film professionally made and likely to please its audience, but criticizes it as a hollow, overblown action sequel. He praises Gibson and Glover’s charisma together, which he sees as the strongest part of the film. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-07-ca-3330-story.html) ## Den of Geek — Mark Oakley Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 2010. Oakley considers the sequel one of Hollywood’s finest, praising its fast-paced, witty script and the leads’ convincing bond. He faults the supporting performances, especially Patsy Kensit’s, but says the action and direction keep the film entertaining. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/looking-back-at-lethal-weapon-2/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 February 2010. The critic calls it a solid, entertaining sequel, though it is less effective than the first film. They praise the chemistry between Gibson and Glover, which makes the action and comedy engaging. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/lethal-weapon-2-film-review-by-stephen-carty) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/lethal-weapon-2.md