It’s fair to say that Rambo: Last Blood has a lot to live up to. After all, the character of John Rambo and the charisma of action movie legend Sylvester Stallone have been lighting up screens since 1982. Rambo is an iconic creation, a Vietnam War veteran with an instinct for jungle warfare and a knack for constructing deadly traps for his enemies. But Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: Last Blood is very different from the Stallone we met in First Blood.
Here, Rambo is older- if not exactly wiser- and there’s a kind of jaded bleakness to Stallone’s performance which underpins the almost manic bloodlust of the previous movies. The plot follows the old soldier as he is brought out of retirement to travel to Mexico and rescue his adopted niece Gabriela (Yvette Monreal) from a human trafficking cartel which is holding her captive. Along the way, he joins forces with investigative reporter Carmen (played by Spanish actress Paz Vega), a kind of femme fatale whose life is tinged with tragedy. Against almost insurmountable odds, Rambo must bring down the brutal Martinez brothers.
Sylvester Stallone is always a likeable actor, and here he manages to bring a human aspect to Rambo the killing machine. Paz Vega, too, does her best to breathe some life into a sadly underwritten character. In fact, one of the movie’s major weaknesses is its simplistic script and underdeveloped characterization. But the filmmakers know that most fans don’t watch these movies for the plot- they watch for the over-the-top action and gruesome kills. In that regard, Rambo: Last Blood does not disappoint.
If you’re new to the franchise, don’t start here- try one of the earlier movies for a better introduction to the character and the ultraviolent style. But if you are already a longtime fan, then watching Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: Last Blood will feel like a new encounter with an old friend.
Rating 3/5
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