The Last Stand (Movie Review)

The Last Stand is a new action flick that sees the return of The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the lead protagonist. That action star returns as Sheriff Ray Owens in the new film, and it's not long before the quiet town is thrust into the middle of a FBI chase for a cartel boss. Arnold delivers another great role in the film and proves there's been no rust gathering since his time away from the camera, but there are some less impressive performances in the film though. Fans of the action genre will still greatly enjoy a film that delivers plenty of exciting car chases and gun fights, and the nostalgia of seeing Arnold as the star of the film definitely doesn't hurt either.


The Last Stand begins with the introduction of Sheriff Ray and his small town police squad that consists of a whopping three other members. The action then shifts to a FBI mission destined to go wrong, when a team is sent out in the middle of the night to transport one of the world's most dangerous drug lords to a maximum security prison. The criminal promptly escapes and is soon set on a collision course with the small town of Sommerton Junction. It then turns into an exciting showdown for the small town's finest to stop the cartel leader and his army of soldiers from escaping into Mexico and disappearing for good. There isn't anything terrible about The Last Stand's storyline, but it's hardly a memorable narrative even in a genre that isn't always known for delivering memorable stories.

The Last Stand features a mixture of good and bad acting that doesn't help its cause either. Arnold delivers a great performance as the Sheriff of the small town, while Forest Whitaker and Eduardo Noriega perform well in their roles as FBI Agent John Bannister and cartel boss Gabriel Cortez respectively. Other performances. such as those from Jaimie Alexander and Zach Gilford, stick out as some of the worst in the film for the two deputies. Actor Luis Guzmán also feels out of his element as the film's final member of the small town police force, though the character, along with Johnny Knoxville's bizarre Lewis Dinkum character, does provide some comic relief for the film to help serve a purpose in the role.

When the final credits roll, fans won't be sad they paid the price of admission, though many viewers will mostly have forgotten about The Last Stand by this time next year. The film is a fun ride while it lasts, but doesn't pack a good enough storyline or enough memorable characters to make any real lasting impact. Arnold shines in his role in the film, and it's great to see him back as the star of a new action film, but even The Governator isn't enough to make The Last Stand worth much more than a rental. Check out The Last Stand on DVD, Blu-ray and online streaming services today!

The Last Stand is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and Video on Demand. The Last Stand is rated R by the MPAA. For more information on the film, check out the official The Last Stand website.

Movie Features:
Release Date: January 12, 2013 (DVD Release: May 21, 2013)
Director: Kim Jee-Woon
Running Time: 107 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker & Johnny Knoxville

Score: 6 out of 10