The Last Boy Scout (1991)

Joseph Hallenbeck is a Los Angeles private detective who left the US Secret Service under a cloud after striking Senator Calvin Baynard; Jimmy Dix is a former American Football quarterback who was kicked out of the game for gambling offences… this unlikely pair find themselves working together when the woman Joe was hired to protect, Jimmy's girlfriend, is murdered. They are both determined to get to the bottom of what happened. They discover that she had incriminating evidence that linked local football team owner Shelly Marcone and Senator Baynard concerning an investigation into the legalisation of gambling of sports in the US. The evidence is destroyed but it points them in the right direction and soon they, along with Joe's teenage daughter, Darian, are in considerable danger.If one was in any doubt that this was going to rather over the top the opening scene will dispel those doubts… the sight of a professional football player pulling a gun and shooting several opponents before killing himself was almost laughable. We then get a story full of clichés; the mismatched characters who bond over the course of the series, bad guys dispatched with witty quips and a hero's daughter caught up in events… at first these clichés are mildly irritating but as it progresses they become amusing as one spots each new one. This may all make this sound like a poor film but ultimately it is rather fun… there is lots of great action with shootings, explosions and even a bad guy getting sliced-and-diced as he falls through a helicopter's rotors! Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans put in solid performances as Joe and Jimmy. Halle Berry puts in a nice little performance, in an early role, as Jimmy's girlfriend; it was a pity her character was killed so soon. Young Danielle Harris also impresses as Joe's daughter, a character who could easily have been irritating. Overall this isn't really a classic but if you like '90s action it is certainly worth checking out.

The only reason I give this Bruce Willis film five stars is for the action and special effects. Otherwise, this is a mayhem movie of over the top gore and violence, crudity, foul language and vulgarity. The plot for "The Last Boy Scout" is a twisted and complicated mess. The film gets into everything from politics and crooked politicians, to major sports corruption, to drugs, sex, and government cover-ups. You know the movie is going into the realm of fantasy or sci-fi when a pro-football player is juiced on drugs and then runs the football carrying a gun and shooting down three defenders on the way to the end zone. I think the writers of this one might have been on the juice themselves – powder or liquid. As for acting and directing, how could one tell? It was constant mayhem, beating, shooting, running, etc. to the point that it was hard to follow any semblance of a plot. This is a far cry from the Die Hard films that have a simple plot and then build around it with tremendous action, special effects and clever solutions. Yes, they have violence – but not of the gore type, nor the crude, vulgarity of wild animals. This is one most people should skip unless you want to study what not to do and how not to make a film that would have wide audience appeal. I saw this movie in its theater release, but it had been so long ago and I couldn't remember much about it. So, I watched it again recently and it was soon apparent why I couldn't remember much about it. It definitely is a forgettable film.

L.A. Stallions running back Billy Cole gets a threatening phone call. In the game, he starts shooting and kills himself. Private eye Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) was once a heroic Secret Service agent. His wife is cheating on him with his work partner Mike Matthews. He punches Mike once but still wants his works. Mike's car explodes after giving Joe the job to protect stripper Cory (Halle Berry). Cory's boyfriend is former L.A. Stallions star quarterback Jimmy Alexander Dix (Damon Wayans) who was banned for gambling and drugs. Hit men kill Cory and Joe works to solve her murder with Jimmy and Joe's young foul-mouthed daughter Darian (Danielle Harris). It is attitude over substance. Tony Scott fills it with slick explosive action. Willis and Wayans form a sarcastic cynical duo. The case doesn't really matter and is forgettable as soon as it's revealed. It's the two characters tearing their way through L.A. Danielle Harris comes in to swear up a storm. This may be a good character for Willis to revisit.

I'll admit from the start of this review that I love this movie. It's almost perfect entertainment. However it was not the success it should have been.Directed by Tony Scott, produced by Joel Silver, with a brilliant script written by Shane Black purchased for a record fee, and Bruce Willis at his wisecracking best it all seemed to be in place for a box office smash and a potential franchise. Then during a troubled production too many cooks spoilt the broth. Plot In A Paragraph: Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) is a burned-out private detective. Jimmy Dix (Damon Wyans) is an ex-LA Stallions player. Hallenbeck is hired to protect Dix's girlfriend Cory (a gorgeous young Halle Berry). When Cory is executed during a drive-by shooting, Hallenbeck and Dix team up to take on the bad guys and save the day.Bruce Willis is at his wisecracking best as Joe Hallenbeck (basically a hungover version of John McClaine from Die Hard) Damon Wyans tries hard to keep up with Willis and generally succeeds. Halle Berry looks great in her small amount of screen time, Noble Willingham is at his best as Shelly Marcone, while Chelcie Ross is perfectly sleazy as Senator Bainett. Taylor Negron is brilliant as Milo and Danielle Harris is good as Darrian, Willis's foul mouthed daughter. I'll forever be amazed this never generated at least one sequel.