MovieChat Forums > Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) Discussion > The story about Froggy always touched my...

The story about Froggy always touched my heart

posted 3 years ago by scannerdarkly (1380)
7 replies | jump to latest

When Leo meets up with Riggs at the cemetery and he tells Riggs:

"I had this pet frog, his name was Froggy. He was my best friend in the whole world. I didn't have a lot of friends. As a matter of fact... okay I had no friends, and uh, I used to kiss the frog, too. I thought maybe, uh, that it would turn into a princess since I was a boy, and uh, it could be my mother. They told me that she left or something, and my father was no bargain, and so just the frog. Froggy was my friend and I really loved him, and I took him everywhere with me, and I was riding on my bike one day and he jumped out of the box, and uh, I ran him over with the back tire. I killed him. I was really heartbroken. Really, he was my best friend in the whole world; the only thing I ever loved. And then I met you and Roger, and you guys really looked after me a lot more then you had to. You are my family. You are my friends. You are not better friends than Froggy. You're just different, and, uh, I just thought that *maybe* that might be relevant. Okay. I'll leave you alone now".

The story about accepting loss, and realizing that you dont have to compare new loved one to old ones, they arent better or worse just "different" so you dont have to feel like you are disrespecting their memory by moving forward and making new friends. You dont have to remain miserable.

This story helped me in many ways when I lost my best friend. We can move forward in our lives.

[–] rateater (10032) 3 years ago

i liked the speech when i saw it in the theater. the movie had some problems but that scene between riggs and leo worked and helped mature the characters friendship.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

There was some really baaaaad and awkward humor in this movie and Pesci's character was the center of a lot of it, but you are right. This little scene was surprisingly well done.

[–] Mustang (5422) 3 years ago

Riggs is also a misfit although a more competent and cooler misfit than Leo. He found connection in his wife and when she passed it obviously rocked him as he had no one else. It is amazing really how similar Leo and Riggs are in some ways.

[–] scannerdarkly (1380) 3 years ago

I never thought of it like that. Riggs became best friends with Murtaugh in the first movie, but without Murtaugh he didnt seem to have any other friends, only coworkers or associates. So that makes his wifes passing more depressing if you dont have any friends. It rings true to life as well. When an older married couple experiences the death of their spouse, if the husband dies the wife has a network of friends and family to ease the burden and they often live a long time without their husband. But when the wife dies, the husband doesnt have strong friendly bonds or family to ease the burden and the husband usually doesnt live so long after the wife dies. Granted, Riggs and his Wife werent an old married couple but women tend to have lifelong friendships whereas men do not. Its hard dealing with suffering by yourself.

[–] Mustang (5422) 3 years ago

Going by memory the next woman he has any feelings for is the South African blonde who is also killed. That would really knock you around even more. So by the time Russo's character comes along, I think I would be terrified to get close to anyone, especially a cop!

They have found that when men get married they lose contact with their friends a lot of the time. The wife's side takes over but the man doesn't feel any connection with them.

We don't know what Riggs was like prior to his wife's death but I still can't see him having an active social life, joining the boys for a beer etc

I don't think age or how long you have been with someone makes it any harder or easier to cope in the end.

[–] scannerdarkly (1380) 3 years ago

Those are some good points, I appreciate your response.

[–] rateater (10032) 10 months ago

froggy died so riggs could move on.