"The Age" reviewer gave this movie three stars and said it was the only genuinely funny movie that Arnold Schwarzenegger had ever made, so that was good enough to give it a go.
Although a fan of the movies that Arnie made as part of the Terminator franchise, I haven't seen many of his other movies. This one marks his return to the silver screen following his term as "The Gubernator" (Governor of California).
This film is a action adventure in the tradition of the "Spaghetti Western", but it isn't afraid to laugh at itself and pay homage to the "bigger than Ben Hur" tradition of Hollywood blockbusters where good takes on evil. In this example small town values of honesty, integrity and caring for each other come up against an amoral drug lord with seemingly limitless resources. The "little people" manage to do what the FBI is unable to do.
Schwarzenegger plays a middle-aged small town sheriff who left an illustrious career in LA behind him after losing a lot of colleagues in a shoot-out. He is kind, patient, dedicated, thorough and professional, and provides a good role model for his two young deputies (male and female) and his Hispanic senior deputy.
After the drug lord masterminds an improbable escape from custody, he drives south from Las Vegas in a hotted up car with a traitorous female FBI agent as a "hostage". There are some pretty crazy road trip and car chase scenes in which law enforcement comes off a distinct second-best. However, things change when the roadshow arrives in Somerton County. Although the young male deputy who was dreaming of a more exciting future sadly perishes, others are drafted, including an eccentric local who conveniently owns a firearms museum. After a firefight in the main street and an even crazier car chase in a corn field, in a scene reminiscent of "High Noon" Arnie and the drug lord meet on a newly constructed bridge that he needs to cross in order to escape into Mexico. Fisticuffs follow but Arnie prevails and brings the handcuffed fugitive back into town and hands him over to the Feds.
There are some nice touches which could be interpreted as tributes to Arnie's past career as a cyborg - he twice pulls a nasty sharp object out of his leg and keeps going and on the bridge, in response to the ever-escalating offer of a bribe, says "my honour is not for sale". He is also willing to acknowledge the impact of advancing years.
All key members of the supporting cast put in a solid performance. The bad guys all seem slightly unhinged, the Feds are predictable, and the small town heroes look out for each other and come across as genuine. There is plenty of humour along the way and despite the odds (and resources) being well and truly stacked against them, the viewer is willing the good guys to win.
This is an enjoyable and entertaining movie (but definitely not one for the squeamish). Schwarzenegger puts in a fine performance as someone who cares and is willing to fight for what he believes in. He shows a certain humanity and vulnerability, and perhaps his experiences in politics and the unravelling of his personal life have made him a better man with a greater ability to connect with "the little people". Perhaps there will be more good work to come.
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