MovieChat Forums > Lethal Weapon (1987) Discussion > Homophobic References

Homophobic References

posted 12 years ago by sunny_jim9
70 replies | jump to latest

Did any of you notice the homophobic references in this movie. Like when they are discussing the Hunsaker case in the shooting range and when that house blows up and Murtaugh trys to put the fire out (forgive my spelling). I also read a review of Braveheart on tvguide.com and it said it was a good movie if not for a few intentional homophobic references. Also, the lethal weapon 4 review said it had a lot of racist humor in it. Then there is all that Passion stuff (I havn't seen the movie btw). Don't get me wrong, I am 100% a Mel fan and think that all this crap in the media has been blown right out of proportion. It's just interesting, watching all these Mel movies and there are stuff in there that can be put to controversy.

[–] The_Sentry 12 years ago

I don't really care either way. Nowadays seemingly every one is so hyper sensitive about every little bit of dialogue that could possibly be construed the wrong way, It's irritating.
Tropic Thunder and the retard bit, Lord of the Rings and racism, End of Watch, racist, Lethal Weapon, homophobic, the 40 year old virgin, homophobic, The Passion of the Christ, antisemitic, Life of Brian, blasphemous, The Kingdom, islamophobic etc etc etc.
People just need chill out.
On a side note I remember the candy I used to buy as a kid called "Fags" I wonder if they still sell them... Anybody else know that candy? The were long and white with a red end, signifying a cigarette, a fag, lol.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dyahrmarkt 11 years ago

"It's just interesting, watching all these Mel movies and there are stuff in there that can be put to controversy."

**Uh, yeah, especially when you do an IMDB thread about it. Put the references in context. Also, that 'fag' line after the house blows up was pretty damned funny, considering the situation.

Please nest your IMDB page, and respond to the correct person -

[–] ebright99 11 years ago

That "what are you a fag?" line is just semi-comic banter between men. It was common in the '80s and it is common now. The only difference is that today we have a contingency of people who shun it and harp on it when they should just get over themselves.

[–] manram24 11 years ago

Exactly. People need to lighten up and stop with this over the top political correctness. Everything is deemed offensive and homophobic now.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

[–] MurphAndTheMagicTones 11 years ago

Well, the PC police can go overboard quite often, but I don't think it would be acceptable to use those phrases in a movie that was made today. Politicians would certainly agree, but then they court the gay vote because there's a lot of money to be had there. Unless of course the anal-retentive born again Christians throw more money at them.

Think about it, how many people these days would support what the Westboro Baptist Church does? Few, if any.

BTW, Riggs also said "who's the Chin?" in the movie, so gay slurs weren't the only ones used in the movie.

---
Friends don't let friends make Harlem Shake videos.

[–] manram24 11 years ago

The Westboro Baptist Church are sickos, Everyone, left or right would admit that, they aren't christians by any sense of the word. But I'm not easily offended in general, I'm pretty anti-PC.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

[–] sunny_jim9 11 years ago

Shane Black, who wrote the script for this movie, also wrote the script for the "The Last Boy Scout", which also had a homophobic reference when one of the characters tells Bruce Willis he has a good build, in which he responds "What are you a fag?"

[–] manram24 11 years ago

Haha.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

[–] raindog517 10 years ago

Everyone worries about people being too PC these days.

That is, until they take offense to something.

[–] manram24 10 years ago

Everyone worries about people being too PC these days.

Yep.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

[–] cborder-1 10 years ago

"Fag" in the 80's and 90's was no big deal. I used it, but never as an attack on a gay man. I would use it to make fun of friends as a synonym for "sissy."

"Don't be a fag, man. Have a beer."

Was it right? No. Although there was a gay guy that would hang with us from time to time in college and he would say stuff like mentioned above. "Wait. You want water instead of a beer? Didn't know you were a fag, man."

I don't use it anymore, though.

[–] Lopsided55 10 years ago

Practically every 80s movie has at least one "fag" joke. It's unrelated to Mel's opinions.

[–] Maverikk 10 years ago

Yeah, go watch an Eddie Murphy standup, or him in trading places. He says *fag got* a lot! I can't stand this politically correct world. I can't stand the word homophobic. Some of these oversensitive queers should worry about sucking a good dick, and stop worrying about about harmless words like fag, queer, and fudge packer.

Dick Van Dyke would have never been allowed to call himself that today!

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] T-eschberger 8 years ago

The casual "disgusting but ok" thing is rather odd. It's not about being PC. I hate the current PC climate with a fiery passion. It's just odd having a character be so casually hateful for no reason.

[–] sugar_n_spice 8 years ago

The casual "disgusting but ok" thing is rather odd.

Thank you, I agree. I've still never caught the "What're you, a fag?" line, but if it's when they're putting out the flames on jackets after Dixie's house blew up, it at least fits the scene (a play on "flaming").

But a few days ago I watched the movie, and the "disgusting, but okay" line jumped out at me. I could not think of a good reason why it was kept in the film - or why it was written in the first place. I started my own thread asking about it, since I didn't notice this one.

http://greens-end.myminicity.com/env

[–] club-shred 8 years ago

Thank you, I agree. I've still never caught the "What're you, a fag?" line, but if it's when they're putting out the flames on jackets after Dixie's house blew up, it at least fits the scene (a play on "flaming").

But a few days ago I watched the movie, and the "disgusting, but okay" line jumped out at me. I could not think of a good reason why it was kept in the film - or why it was written in the first place. I started my own thread asking about it, since I didn't notice this one.

spice - I think you and others that are way too PC these days may be missing a point that WAS NOT beat over our heads in this movie: Although it shouldn't be a big deal that the character of Riggs may not be enchanted by the thought of lesbian-sex or whatever, the point as I always saw it (even as an 18-year old when this movie came out) was that the "disgusting" part plays into the fact that Amanda Hunsaker was made out to be wholesome (to a point) and the thought of her rolling around with a beat-ass hooker like Dixie is probably what was "disgusting". I say this because it's no secret that the videotape that Murtaugh is watching has cutesy chickies frolicking around in the shower. So the "hot" lesbian stuff was really no biggie - whether Mel's character ain't into it or not.

As far as the "What are you, a fag?" line, who cares? Back then it was no big deal.

You'll work on... "We were making too much money".

[–] manram24 8 years ago

As far as the "What are you, a fag?" line, who cares? Back then it was no big deal.

That's when things were better, nobody was offended by every little thing, every word like today. Times were simpler then and no I don't agree with the PC crowd that thinks being offended by everything these days is progress.

Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours

[–] club-shred 8 years ago

manram,

Totally agree. Times were simpler but I recall everyone bitching just how "complex" everything was... Jesus H. Tapdancing Christ - if they could only look 30 years into the future and see safe spaces, trigger warnings and SJW propaganda they'd have relished those moments a little more.

You'll work on... "We were making too much money".

[–] Cognoscente (2485) a year ago

Ironically, Riggs kisses Roger on the cheek in #3.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) a year ago

It’s not homophobic, seriously quit being so damn sensitive, or maybe complaining about stuff like that makes you feel good about yourself.