Mel GibsonThe weapon shape from one of his most beloved films gets a low rating from an expert. Gibson has long been a staple in action cinema, delivering intense performances in front of the camera and equally gripping narratives behind them. Since his Oscar win as Scottish Warrior in Brave heart to his work as director in Apocalypse and his award-winning war epic Summit of the mountainhe has earned a reputation for stories that balance raw emotion with unflinching violence. Whether as an artist or filmmaker, his projects often prioritize high-stakes drama, explosive action, and characters fighting against impossible odds.
Over the decades, Gibson's work has defined the action genre. He's collaborated with Hollywood icons like Danny Glover and Jodie Foster, directed visceral war dramas, and portrayed unforgettable antiheroes, starting with his breakout role as the titular drifter in George Miller's post-apocalyptic world. Mad Max. However, even the most celebrated stars are not immune to scrutiny. One specific sequence from the actor's previous work became famous - not for its explosive action or memorable dialogue, but for its lackluster portrayal of firearms techniques.
Lethal weapon shooting range scene misses target
Riggs' gunhandling is far from perfect
In the 1987 action classic Lethal weaponGibson stars as Martin Riggs, a volatile and suicidal LAPD narcotics sergeant. Teamed with Danny Glover's seasoned and straight-laced detective Roger Murtaugh, the mismatched duo navigate explosive action to dismantle a deadly drug smuggling operation. Directed by Richard Donner, the film became a cornerstone of the buddy cop genre and spawned a successful franchise, with Lethal Weapon 5 on the way. One of the film's standout moments takes place at a shooting range, where Riggs demonstrates his skill to Murtaugh by carving a smiley face into a target with his pistol.
In an action movie meltdown with Insider, firearms expert Patrick McNamara gave the Lethal weapon scene with 1 out of 10 for realism. While the shooting range sequence is undeniably fun, McNamara finds it much less impressive. According to the retired Spec Ops agent, the scene is filled with questions that would make any professional shooter cringe. When Glover's Murtaugh took the first hit on a target with a heavy revolver, McNamara said the following:
The revolver's sights are very tiny. They are not very defined. It takes very little time to aim after drawing and hits the target directly between the running lights, which probably won't happen because the accuracy isn't that good.
McNamara pulls no punches when describing the flaws in Riggs' techniquepointing out a litany of errors that make the scene a striking example of what not to do with a firearm. From the lack of trigger discipline to the hesitation with each shot, he explains why the marksmanship displayed is anything but realistic:
Rigg's form is very, very noteworthy. He's slapping the trigger. He goes a million miles on that trigger, he closes his eyes with every shot, and his whole body flinches with every shot. It's not rhythmic. There is no metronome rhythm there. It's just shooting bullets at the target. It's a horrible pistol-shooting scene.
There's no way he could print a smiley face on that target. They supported this target. I could shoot a smiley face at a target like that from 20 yards. It'll take me about 30 seconds or so. They will be accurate shots, not just hitting the target.
I think every gun handler in the world goes back to this movie and talks about this scene here because It's horrible when it comes to gun handling and aiming.
Our Take on Riggs' Aim Scene
Even imperfect actions can still be fun
The shooting range scene in Lethal weapon It may not win points for realism, but it captures the over-the-top bravado that defines Gibson's portrayal of Riggs. His erratic technique and implausible precision make the moment seem larger than life– almost to the extreme. However, it is Gibson's intense, unhinged energy combined with Glover's exasperated, grounded presence that has helped create a whole new genre of mismatched partners in law enforcement.
The chemistry between Gibson and Glover remains undeniable, giving the scene a charm that's hard to ignore as a moment where the film's campy tendencies and its characters' dynamics collide. Although the marksmanship displayed is far from believable, the scene still portrays the balance between chaos and camaraderie that made Lethal weapon a genre-defining hit.
Source: Insider