This isnt the movies anymore
Rating: 6/10
Running Time: 130 minutes
UK Certificate: 15
On DVD
Last Action Hero might have its faults, but lack of originality certainly isnt one of them. Yes, its way too self-indulgent. Yes, the humour wears thin after a while. And yes, it seems to be in a permanent state of confusion over who its target audience are. But its got a great idea behind it, more celebrity cameos than you can shake an exceptionally large stick at, and, of course, Mr Action himself Arnie.
Big Arn gets to play both himself and a generic fictional big screen cop in this ambitious slice of action comedy, about a kid (Austin OBrien) who discovers a portal from his local cinema into the smash em crash em world of the movies. The bemulleted little meddler has a tough time convincing Arnies cigar-chewin hardman that his every move is being played out to theatre audiences everywhere until they end up bringing the crime-fighting plotline crashing back into the real world, that is.
Its a fascinating concept, and theres never been any shortage of debate over whether or not director John McTiernan actually manages to pull it off. It certainly has several chortle-out-loud moments, the torrent of action sequences never fail to impress, and Arnie himself shows (not for the first time just see Twins or Kindergarten Cop) that hes game for a laugh when it comes to sending himself up.
If the film has one major downfall its that its just far . . . too . . . long. Running at over two hours, its already hammered home its point and actioned us to death long before the end credits finally roll. Perhaps our young hero should have found something a bit more modestly timed to try out his celluloid gateway on.
It's Got: The terrific sight of what an Arni-fied version of Hamlet might look like.
It Needs: To be watched with a keen eye if youre to be in with a chance of spotting all those cameos.
DVD Extras Trailer, behind-the-scenes featurette, talent profiles, and the ACDC video Big Gun. I refuse to recognise it as a proper ACDC video though that bloke at the front isnt even dressed in school uniform. DVD Extras Rating: 5/10
Summary
Not the worst way to waste a couple of hours.