Top 10 Alternative Christmas Films: 8. "Lethal Weapon"

December 21, 3:15 PMClassic TV ExaminerDoug Krentzlin

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Everyone knows the big 3 of Christmas films: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and “A Christmas Carol” (Alistair Sim). For those of you who would like to view something different for the holidays, here is the eighth of ten recommendations of alternative Christmas films (to be presented in chronological order).

8. “Lethal Weapon” (1987)

How about a little murder and mayhem for Christmas? You’ll never be able to listen to “Jingle Bell Rock” the same way again after you see the opening sequence of “Lethal Weapon” in which, after the song finishes playing, a young woman falls to a spectacular death from the top of a L.A. high rise.

Investigating the murder are unstable, suicidal Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and mature family man Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), two homicide cops teamed up for their first case together. Both men are Vietnam vets which comes in handy when they discover that the trail leads to an international heroin smuggling ring with ties back to the war. Initially, Riggs and Murtaugh couldn’t be more mismatched, but eventually they bond together in time for Christmas dinner with Murtaugh’s family.

The memorably evil main heavies are mastermind Gen. Peter McAllister (Mitch Ryan) and his psychotic right-hand man Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey). And since this is a Joel Silver production, there are explosions, shootouts, car chases and lots of dead bodies (26 in all) galore.

Expertly directed by Richard Donner and scripted by Shane Black, the success of “Lethal Weapon” led to three sequels. (Donner directed all of them, but Black only returned for the fourth one.)