Laser heating of a two-layer system is studied using the Laplace integral transform method. Expressions for the temperature profiles in the thin film and the substrate are obtained. The front surface temperature is also obtained. As an illustrative example the critical time required to initiate melting is computed for four systems. These systems are aluminum-glass, silver-glass, copper-glass and gold-glass. The obtained profiles in these systems are represented graphically. The obtained results reveal the linear dependence of the considered profiles on the heat power absorbed at the front surface. They also depend strongly on the thermal properties of the considered materials. Computations make it possible to decide whether one laser pulse can initiate melting in the considered target or not.