Plot: This “Lethal Weapon” spoof follows Los Angeles police officers Wes Luger (Samuel L. Jackson) and Jack Colt (Emilio Estevez) as they investigate the killing of fellow officer Sgt. Billy York (Whoopi Goldberg). On the strength of tips from stool pigeons like Becker (Jon Lovitz), Wes and Jack learn that the murder is linked to a plan by criminals Gen. Curtis Mortars (William Shatner) and Jigsaw (Tim Curry) to lace snack foods with hard drugs. They must stop the plot before it begins causing harm.
“Wilderness Gurrls!”
We need more silly in the world today and over the weekend I was in need of a laugh and saw this gem on Tubi; I hadn’t watched Loaded Weapon for many years and forgot just how fun it is.
With cameos from Bruce Willis, Charlie Sheen and Denis Leary to Samuel L. Jackson showing real comedic chops, there are so many hilarious moments in this movie that any fan of classic action (especially Lethal Weapon) should enjoy.
Emilio Estevez plays Jack Colt with Samuel L. Jackson playing Wes Luger and they are essentially Riggs and Murtaugh; the paid are forced to work together as they try to take down the villain General Mortars (William Shatner). He is using Wilderness Girls cookies to smuggle cocaine with his henchman Jigsaw (no, not that one). The role is played to perfection by the late, great Tim Curry in what is my favourite character of his. His Wilderness Girls scene near the beginning has me in stitches every time and I don’t know how Whoopi Goldberg managed to keep a straight face.
It manages to keep up the momentum with visual gags I missed the first time I watched it with other jokes I maybe didn’t understand when I was younger too.
There is plenty of action with some shoot-outs and explosions with a Lethal Weapon-esque score to boot.
You also have to love Frank McCrae at his shouty police captain best as Doyle which he also did in Last Action Hero.
Overall, if you’re a fan of Lethal Weapon and need a good laugh then National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1 still holds up with some hilarious and silly moments and plenty of cameos with Bruce Willis being the clear highlight.