In giving 1991’s The Last Boy Scout a three-star review, critic Roger Ebert was properly performing his duty as an objective reporter, praising the filmmakers’ professional skill while observing that “the only consistent theme of the film is its hatred of women”. For the purposes of this capsule review, there’s no such obligation to level-headed fairness; the simple truth is, this ultraviolent, action-packed vehicle for Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans is disgustingly rotten to the core. Not only is it fuelled by a bitter and spiteful attitude toward women, it’s also the kind of profanely vulgar movie that doesn’t hesitate to put foul-mouthed children in the path of vicious thugs and potentially deadly situations. Willis plays an ex-secret service agent turned private detective who is hired to protect a stripper (Halle Berry) and then teams up with the stripper’s boyfriend (Wayans), a disgraced NFL star who was kicked out of football for gambling. They catch on to a criminal plot leading all the way up to a corrupt football team owner who wants to legalise gambling on pro football. Willis and Wayans get in and out of all sorts of trouble along the way, and naturally there are plenty of explosions to go along with the brutal beatings, gunfire and constant cussing. Shane Black (of Lethal Weapon infamy) set a Hollywood record (since broken, several times) for the sale price of his slick but vile screenplay and Top Gun director Tony Scott handles the action with his trademark gloss and high-impact style. But, seriously, is this a movie that anyone could bear to watch twice? –Jeff Shannon
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Friday night’s a great night for football Back in 1991 there was still only one way that studios could sell Bruce Willis and that was as various incarnations of his Die Hard hero. Even Eddie (Hudson) Hawkins had similarities to John McClane. Joe Hallenbeck is a sort of mix between McClane and a stereotypical hardboiled private eye. Watching him mumble and grunt through various near-deaths and close shaves makes for much fun.As a private dick Hallenbeck scrounges for work wherever he can find it. So he takes up a job protecting a stripper named Cory and soon finds himself in a lot of trouble with the men who are controlling Pro Football. Bad guys are trying to get him left and right, and his bratty 13-year-old daughter tagging along doesn’t help much.Tony Scott’s style of direction is best suited to this type of action flick. The flashy, exotic editing and cinematography techniques lend a lot to the witty script and compliment the seedy back alleyways and pretty Los Angeles vistas. Shane Black has also written dozens of one-liners and riddled the script with funny dialogue and exciting situations. It’s no surprise that this was once the most expensive script ever sold in Hollywood.Some people say that this film is too violent and misogynist but I honestly cannot understand what they are talking about. I guess it was just a little out of the norm back in 1991. But still the tone of the film is so light and enjoyable you begin to wonder how this never made up for it. Check it out for yourself and I am sure that you will enjoy.The Blu Ray is in 1080p 2.40:1 widescreen with lossless DTS HD-MA sound. I can confirm that that it is a HUGE step up in quality from the horrid DVD edition. Well worth the upgrade.
Try it.. You might like it The best way to describe this film would be to say that it is a bloke flick, not for women but not against them, my girlfriend enjoyed it every bit as much as i did but it’s not really a cuddle up on the sofa romantic film.