Last Action Hero (1993)

Director: Jiohn McTiernan

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O’Brien, Charles Dance, f. Murray Abraham

Primary genre: Fantasy

Secondary genre: Action

Third genre: Comedy

Initially, almost everyone regarded “Last Action Hero” as a typical Schwarzenegger flick trying to recapture the glory of 80s machoism with one liners, babes and one dimensional villains. It also had the bad luck to open at the same time when Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” (1993) revived dinosaurs for the big screen. In 1993 after all, the digital revolution had begun and thus, people wanted to experience innovation and not another shootout with cartoonish violence and banal storylines of corruption. Representatives of that era like Stallone, Van Damme, Arnie and (yes) Seagal began to fade away and if they wanted to survive, they need less muscles and more brawns.

Revisiting the bastardized version of “Last Action Hero” which was released in the cinemas, one would labeled it as a sweet film that despite its shortcomings, several edit changes, script supervisions and tonal inconsistencies, its entertaining value has been undoubtedly increasing with every passing decade. Arnold Schwarzenegger after the monstrous success of “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991) relishes in a role which pretty much parodies himself sharing a strong connection with the audience’s surrogate hero Danny Mulligan. Unlike most underage leads, Austin O’Brien’s Danny is instantly likeable; he is not a brat, he loves his mother and is utterly captivated by movies which sees in a decayed theatre operated by an old and friendly projectionist (an excellent Robert Prosky).

Quite frankly, it is moments like these where “Last Action Hero” struggles to find its emotional core. Important developments on Danny’s life like being robbed in his own flat are brushed away to make room for the upcoming and inevitable clash of reality and fantasy. And this is where the film comes truly to life. Once Danny is transported into the world of Jack Slater, he not only lives his own dream to the max, he actively tries to alter the movie-within-a-movie’s outcome. Shane Black’s script (or whatever was left of it) remains even in this exoskeletal form pretty smart. Danny tries to outsmart these cinematic individuals by pointing out movie rules and cliches that we the audience already know; no swear words to avoid an R-rating, all women are exceptionally hot, the violence is cartoony and so on. It is a bizarre but ultimately rewarding choice where the film is simultaneously mocking and celebrating the conventions of the action genre (e.g., Black’s own “Lethal Weapon” (1987) comes to mind immediately). You might get the feeling that frequently, “Last Action Hero” seems to be standing around commenting on itself with its myriad of zany industry in-jokes, self-referential parody and film-buff gags but its approach brings is filled with a 13-year-old boy’s innocent (and infectious) enthusiasm and imagination.

“Hey Claudius! You killed my father! Big mistake!”

— Jack Slater

More than halfway through though the action is moved to the real world and throws several ideas at the screen which do not go anywhere. Like our heroes, we have to adapt to the bitter rules of reality where Slater is an every day big man who can be killed and the bad guys can get away with it but then additional subplots that include Slater being involved with Danny’s mom (as a stand in for the film’s Arnold Schwarzenegger) or becoming a surrogate father figure for our unlucky hero are never fully explored. The same can be said for our chief villain. As Benedict (a scene stealing Charles Dance) attempts to bring famous movie characters (like Dracula, Hannibal Lecter) to life, the film (and perhaps the budget) decides to call it quits in a rather underwhelming finale. The third act is so focused to have an army of celebrities rather than delivering a cathartic and poignant aspect of Danny’s coming-of-an-age story.

Nevertheless, this big budget action spoof has a lot of positives to go for it. A drinking game of sport-the-90s-celebrity should be mandatory on repeated viewings: Ian McKellen, Sharon Stone, Aidan Quinn, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jim Belushi, Robert Patrick and F. Murray Abraham and more parade for our pleasure to ensure the film is strictly placed in the dominated culture of that time. The paradoxical environment is still a brilliant setting for OTT shenanigans which action veteran McTiernan (right after “Predator” (1987), “Die Hard” (1988), and “The Hunt for Red October” (1990)) delivers in spades with excessive action set pieces full of car chases, extravagant stunts, massive explosions and bullet mayhem. Like Danny we know the absurdity of them all but we are drawn to the charismatic appeal of Jack Slater - or Arnold himself - who is out to get the bad guys and makes us all feel a little safer.

A motion picture screaming for a remake, the excess of “Last Action Hero” does not prevent it from being a joyful film to experience. It is fast, exciting, funny - a fictional segment with Slater dispatching henchmen as Hamlet is a masterstroke of absurdity - and frankly appealing. It might sometimes struggle to find its footing, particularly in the third act but it makes up for it with its charismatic protagonist duo, a career peak Arnie, a solid rock/metal soundtrack, funny jokes and clever satire. One could even put forward an argument that “Last Action Hero“ is a meta-masterpiece.

Epitome of Hollywood excess

+Underage lead is great

+Arnie has the time of his life

+Great satire of Hollywood industry and action cliches

+Well done action

+Army of references and famous people

+Brilliant idea

-Muddy execution

-Tonal inconsistencies

-More Charles Dance please