I’ve Never Understood The Dislike For What Is Secretly One Of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Best Movies

I’ve Never Understood The Dislike For What Is Secretly One Of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Best Movies

There are unpopular Arnold Schwarzenegger movies that I get, like 1994’s Junior (though, I actually like that film), and The 6th Day (which I don’t like). However, do you know one disliked Arnie movie that I’ve never understood? 1993’s action comedy, Last Action Hero. While it’s acquired a cult following over the years, it still never attained Terminator franchise status, or became a beloved modern classic like Jingle All the Way.

That said, Last Action Hero is a top tier Schwarzenegger movie that I hold up there with other Arnie classics like True Lies, Predator, Eraser (which I also need to write about some day), and even Commando, which I consider the greatest action movie of all time. So, why do I hold this much-maligned movie in such high regard? Well, you’re about to find out.

Arnold Schwarzenegger just before an explosion in Last Action Hero

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment)

It’s Not Supposed To Be Taken Seriously

my favorite Charlie Kaufman movie, Adaptation, in that the story within the story is one of the best things going for it.

Because Schwarzenegger’s character, Jack Slater, is just coming to grips with the fact that he’s in a movie, the audience gets to enjoy all of the tropes (like a talking, animated cat detective) that sometimes end up in these kinds of flicks. It’s never supposed to be taken seriously, and for people who don’t like it because it’s so silly, all I can say is, loosen up. That said…

my favorite Schwarzenegger franchises? Conan the Barbarian. The stories are awesome, and the action is second to none. In fact, I’d be hard pressed to find any Arnie film that didn’t have at least some awesome action sequences. I mean, hell, even Jingle All The Way has that fight with Big Show Santa.

So, even though LAH is more comedy than action movie, that doesn’t mean the action in it isn’t amazing. In fact, since it’s playing on the tropes, the action is even more enjoyable because it’s so over the top.

For example, in the first big action scene where our kid protagonist, Danny (Austin O’Brien) enters the movie world, we see Schwarzenegger as Slater in a high speed chase. The bad guys throw some dynamite (from an ACME crate, no less), and it bounces off Slater’s car and explodes in the middle of the street.

Or what about the rooftop scene with The Ripper? The whole sequence (which features Schwarzenegger’s character MEETING Schwarzenegger) features a chase through a movie house that culminates in a shocking conclusion (because the villain gets electrocuted, you see). In the end, even though the movie is funny, it’s also exciting. You can’t lose!

once turned down auditioning for James Bond), he was perfect in The Golden Child, and he’s perfect in this.

In fact, out of all of the performances I love from Dance, this might be my favorite. He plays Mr. Benedict as one of the few characters who almost immediately thinks there’s something weird about Danny. When he learns about the ticket into the real world, he takes the first opportunity to leave his celluloid existence.

Once he’s here, he notices that unlike in movies, where everything seemingly has a cause-and-effect relationship, in the real world, you could just shoot somebody and nobody would care. This makes him a really compelling villain, as he tries to test the limits of reality, and then adjusts, whereas Slater has a problem understanding why stuff that works in movies doesn’t work in reality.

It’s a really cool role, and Dance excels because he’s just so cool as an actor in general. I don’t think anybody else could have filled this role.

Terminator 1 is greater thanTerminator 2). Look, I get it. T2 is a landmark film and definitely one of the best movies of the ‘90s.

However, my favorite Arnie film has always been Total Recall, as there’s really no other film like it in his filmography. Based on the Philip K. Dick novelette, “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” it’s such a strange movie that is probably more sci-fi than action flick. But, it’s just so unique that I can always point to it to show that Schwarzenegger really did do interesting movies throughout his career that weren’t just by-the-numbers action flicks.

LAH is another one of those. By poking fun at the genre that he built his whole career on, it feels disorienting at times, but also adventurous. For example, there’s a moment in the film where we actually see the whole Stallone/Schwarzenegger rivalry alluded to with a poster of Stallone in Terminator 2.

Sharon Stone and Robert Patrick also make brief cameos, which are references to Recall and T2, respectively. Honestly, at times, Last Action Hero feels both like a send-up of action movies, but also a loving homage to Schwarzenegger movies in general, which is really cool and unique, and like no other Arnie film out there.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Austin O'Brien by a car with flames in Last Action Hero

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment)

This Is Also One Of The Few Schwarzenegger Movies I Can Watch With My Kids

Lastly, this is one of the best Arnie movies because you can enjoy it with the whole family. That’s right, unlike most of his action films, which are rated R, Last Action Hero is rated PG-13, and it’s suitable for most ages.

In fact, I watched it with my son, and he really enjoyed it. The movie came out in ‘93 (I was actually 10 when I first saw it in a theater with my dad) and I remember enjoying it back then (Especially since the protagonist is a kid!). As an adult action fan, though, I like it even more.

I didn’t realize how clever it was back then, but watching it with my son, I realize that it works on so many levels, as he gets some of what the film is going for, but I have to explain the rest. For example, I pointed out the meta-narrative, and he thought it was really unique. He’d never seen a film that did that, so it’s a win-win.

What do you think? Do you also enjoy this movie? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

‘He Could Have Broken His Spinal Cord.’ Happy Gilmore’s Sons Talk About Their Favorite Over-The-Top Celebrations In The Sequel

‘He Could Have Broken His Spinal Cord.’ Happy Gilmore’s Sons Talk About Their Favorite Over-The-Top Celebrations In The Sequel

‘He Could Have Broken His Spinal Cord.’ Happy Gilmore’s Sons Talk About Their Favorite Over-The-Top Celebrations In The Sequel

The following article contains minor spoilers for Happy Gilmore 2. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you can check it out with a Netflix subscription.

With the release of Happy Gilmore 2 on the 2025 Netflix schedule, some funny new characters were introduced, including Happy Gilmore’s sons. Just like Happy himself, these four had some hilarious reactions and celebrations whenever their father would achieve a good putt, a hole in one, or anything else worth freaking out over. So, when I asked them what their favorite Happy Gilmore-esque celebration was to film, they had answers galore.

tag team-up with on-screen dad Adam Sandler, and his take on getting to basically beat up his co-star — “for the love of film” of course– had me in stitches. Another one of the brothers, Schneider, also told me this scene was entirely improvised.

It was totally impromptu. So I remember just out of the corner of my eye… we’ve been called ‘Action’ and we’re just in the take, and then Max just grabs you, and throws you all around the room. It was really wild.

That sounds like something that would happen in a film like this. After all, Happy Gilmore is one of Adam Sandler’s best comedies and has some of Sandler’s best quotes, and the actor is known for making jokes on the fly that tend to live on in infamy. The fact Happy’s “sons” were participating in the improvisation makes me happy.

Happy Gilmore 2 boasts plenty of hilarious moments the boys brought up, including running around screaming ‘daddy’ while swinging sports equipment. It’s also already attracted notice for some of its insanely funny cameos. Even for those on set, some of the cameo moments were spectacular, with Cutowsky telling me:

The one with Steve Buscemi when we’re chasing him down the street was awesome. But that was our first week right there.

While it’s not as prominent as Travis Kelce’s slicked-back hair cameo that everyone is talking about, thanks to a mailbox peeing gag, Steve Buscemi in this movie is hard to miss. Not the kind of neighbor I’d want in real life, but still very funny, and clearly filming with him was memorable for the gang.

All of this makes me want to rewatch the film again for all the great callbacks to former Adam Sandler films – and if there happens to be a Happy Gilmore 3, I’m going to need these boys to come back as soon as possible.

Why Tim Allen Is Old School And Still Likes Filming In Front Of A Live Studio Audience

Why Tim Allen Is Old School And Still Likes Filming In Front Of A Live Studio Audience

Why Tim Allen Is Old School And Still Likes Filming In Front Of A Live Studio Audience

Seinfeld filmed in front of a live studio audience. Friends also famously did it. For years, this format was the norm, but over time that changed as comedy creators got more experimental with single cam and other setups. So much so, that there’s been discourse over the past decade about whether or not the sitcom in front of a live studio audience is dead. Still, a few shows using the format are really popular, including ABC’s Shifting Gears, and that’s exactly how Tim Allen likes it.

The longtime comedy veteran has filmed in front of a live studio audience for decades now on major shows like Home Improvement, Last Man Standing and the aforementioned Shifting Gears. He revealed in an interview that as a performer this is his preferred format, telling USA Today he’s looking for a jolt when on set.

Back in the day, this is how it was, you rehearsed it and shot it in front of real people, and I love that. In the movies, OK maybe I make the crew bust up, but that’s it. Doing Shifting Gears, I get to aim for the whole audience plus the crew. There’s nothing like it.

sentiment similar to what his co-star Kat Dennings has expressed, and it seems to be working. Despite a rumored cancelation scare at the end of Season 1, Shifting Gears was one of the highest-ranked network TV comedies on the 2025 TV schedule, coming in just behind fellow newcomer Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Interestingly enough, Georgie & Mandy is another sitcom that still films in front of a live studio audience — unlike some of its other high-rated contemporaries, including Abbot Elementary or Ghosts.

Shifting Gears will be back for Season 2. It’s also worth noting that ABC’s already announced its 2025 fall schedule, which will have the series returning on October 1st, along with the aforementioned Abbott Elementary and the still fairly fledgling reality series The Golden Bachelor. Those shows might not have a ton in common, but in the ever-changing network TV landscape, it’s nice to see them all back.

I Stan Invisible Woman, But There’s One Part Of Fantastic Four: First Steps That Bothered Me

I Stan Invisible Woman, But There’s One Part Of Fantastic Four: First Steps That Bothered Me

The Marvel Cinematic Universe consistently releases new content for fans, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps is making money in theaters, bringing another quartet of heroes into the shared universe. I was thrilled as a Sue Storm stan, although there was an aspect of the Invisible Woman that bothered me a bit.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been waiting for the Fantastic Four to finally join in on the fun, myself included. Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox opened the doors for that, and First Steps had heart and style. Sue was arguably the biggest hero of the movie, but I found myself distracted a bit by Vanessa Kirby’s accent.

Vanessa Kirby’s Accent Threw Me Off

The trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps hinted that Sue would have an accent, specifically thanks to the way she responds to the Silver Surfer. When asked if they were the protectors of Earth she says “We are,” with her accent heard in the latter word. But I found myself tracking this dialect choice throughout the movie rather than simply being settled in and allowing the 114-minute runtime to wash over me.

Invisible Woman has always been one of my favorite Marvel characters, and is one that I’d frequently use in video games. She’s even my main in the popular online game Marvel Rivals. Add in the badass ways he used her abilities in the battle against Galactus, and I was hyped throughout First Steps.

Vanessa Kirby looks forward with worry in a black turtleneck in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

(Image credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios )

This isn’t to say that Vanessa Kirby wasn’t great in the role. Sue is the heart of The Fantastic Four: First Steps thanks to the layered and vulnerable performance given by the Crown alum. But a quick search on X will show that I’m not the only one who felt that the accent used in her MCU debut was somewhat disorienting.

Kirby and her Fantastic Four co-stars have already been confirmed as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement, so they’ll be able to jump right into a full-blown crossover event when returning for the upcoming Marvel movie. And from the Thunderbolts* end credits scene, it looks like they’ll definitely be meeting up with the New Avengers.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now as part of the 2025 movie release schedule, and the titular team will return to theaters in Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th, 2026.

Jensen Ackles Shares Funny Thoughts On Whether He’ll Let His Daughter Watch Countdown Or The Boys: ‘She Is Begging Me’

Jensen Ackles Shares Funny Thoughts On Whether He’ll Let His Daughter Watch Countdown Or The Boys: ‘She Is Begging Me’

Jensen Ackles Shares Funny Thoughts On Whether He’ll Let His Daughter Watch Countdown Or The Boys: ‘She Is Begging Me’

Jensen Ackles has busy lately, going from the fifth and final season of The Boys to his new Prime show, Countdown, which is airing on the 2025 TV schedule. On top of that, he has Tracker Season 3 on his plate as well as the upcoming The Boys prequel, Vought Rising. Aside from his professional commitments as an actor, Ackles has been balancing parent duties with wife Danneel Ackles, with whom he shares three kids. As Ackles’ eldest daughter, Justice “JJ,” gets older, she wants to watch Countdown or The Boys, and her pop has funny thoughts.

Having a kid who is almost a teenager not only means dealing with the typical growing pains that accompany adolescence. It also means a parent enters murkier territory when it comes to what’s appropriate and inappropriate content for their growing tween to watch. Jense Ackles told People that his oldest daughter is very eager to watch Countdown, and it sounds like he’ll only be able to deny his 12-year-old’s request but so much longer:

She is begging me to watch it, so I might let her. I might have to skip some parts. I think she might be on the cusp of watching Supernatural.

does perform some intense stunts on the show. Supernatural, on the other hand, can vary when it comes to how scary or mature it’s content is. (If there ever is an R-rated revival someday, however, that might be a different story.)

The Boys, which is very raunchy and racy as can be. Even at 28, I’m still a bit unsure of some of the stuff that comes across my screen when I watch the series. When it comes to his daughter watching the wild, comic book adaptation, Ackles made his position humorously clear:

I don’t ever want her watching. Maybe when she’s in her 30s.

The Boys can be very intense, and it’s absolutely not for children. After all, episodes have included an octopus lover storyline, a massive penis prop and plenty of other raunchy scenes that are just too absurd to name. There’s also the whole “Herogasm” plot, so it makes sense that Ackles wants his daughter to steer clear of the series for as long as humanly possible.

At least Jensen Ackles might soon give in to Countdown, which is definitely a more age-appropriate than The Boys. Part of me also feels like if the actor doesn’t allow it, his daughter might find her own way to watch it. I’m personally excited for a time at which J.J. will be old enough to watch all of his past work whether it be scary, action-packed or raunchy.

Stream Countdown and The Boys now using a Prime Video subscription. While they may not be optimal options for young children, a number of adults will surely get a kick out of the shows.