Movie Review: The Last Stand (2013)

Synopsis: After witnessing too much violence, Ray Owens left his life as a Los Angeles police officer to become the sheriff of the sleepy Arizona town of Sommerton Junction. However, when a notorious drug lord escapes federal custody, Ray and his inexperienced staff become the only thing keeping the fugitive and his well-armed henchmen from crossing into Mexico.

Who's in it? The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Eduardo Noriega and Genesis Rodriguez. 


Review: My wife and I came across this movie on Netflix a couple days ago and thought the trailer made it look interesting. We wound up watching it last night and it proved to be a good choice.

An aging Arnold Schwarzenegger in an action movie seemed sketchy, but he did an excellent job in the lead role, bringing just enough strength and endurance to make him the hero while still occasionally showing his age. I also thought the movie had an excellent supporting cast, offering a wide range of characters that portrayed everything from the ultimate evil to the clear comic relief.

I think the thing I liked most about this movie is it never took itself too seriously. Some action films seem to forget they are supposed to be fun. That wasn't the case with this one. There were plenty of serious and sometimes emotional scenes but also a few that were just quirky, like the scene in the diner, with Ray trying to convince people to leave for their safety only to have them make some of the most ridiculous excuses.

My only real complaint about this movie is it seemed to go out of its way to make sure Ray and his crew were fighting the drug dealers alone. This included everything from the lead agent (Whitaker) not taking Ray seriously when he said he knew where the crossing was going to take place to the decision to have reinforcements drive to the destination despite the guy they were chasing (Noriega) having both a head start and a faster car. The FBI has helicopters (along with the National Guard), why not use them?

Final Opinion: It was a fun movie that exceeded my expectations. I'd recommend taking the time to watch it if you get a chance.

My Grade: A

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