The blueprint for all buddy-cop movies, Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) had the perfect dichotomy: white vs. black, young vs. old, trigger-happy vs. gun-shy. If the over-the-top action (and Mel's mullet) isn't enough of a clue, Gary Busey's role as the main villain (Mr. Joshua) is proof-positive that this is an all-time '80s action movie classic. By the end of the film, while Joshua is caught by the pair without incident, Riggs, wanting revenge, proposes "a shot at the title", which Joshua eagerly accepts. Sanctioned by Murtaugh, Riggs and Joshua engage in glorious hand-to-hand combat in the pouring rain. UFC founder Rorion Gracie taught Mel Gibson Jiu-Jitsu in preparation for this scene (hence the presence of his trademark triangle leg-lock), and when Gibson mercifully leaves Busey alive, you know theres only one way it will end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkXb0sz90IY
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
