Arnold Schwarzenegger’s last big action blockbuster

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the epitome of the classic action hero. Starting with “Conan the Barbarian” in 1982, the man celebrated a series of successes that quickly catapulted him into the highest spheres of superstar status. Terminator, Commando, Predator, Red Heat, Total Recall and Terminator 2: Judgment Day are among his most outstanding performances. Even comedies with a lot of sensationalism like “Twins”, “Kindergarten Cop” and the underrated “Last Action Hero” are still worth seeing.

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. Starting with Junior (1994), Schwarzenegger’s career slowly petered out due to flops like Promises, Batman & Robin, End of Days and Collateral Damage. Occasionally, Eraser, 6th Day or Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines would offset the decline, but Schwarzenegger peaked in the early ’90s and given the state of modern action films, which favor morose, frail, emasculated men over muscle-bound titans, a last-minute comeback is probably unlikely.

I’m not bitter. Schwarzenegger’s greatest works like T2, Total Recall and Predator have not lost their charm. If anything, they are more compelling than ever and stand as timeless classics in a genre that has been stripped bare by modern sensibilities.

But his last truly big box office success, aside from T3 (2003), was perhaps his best: James Cameron’s hit True Lies (1994), a suspenseful blockbuster about a man whose double life as a spy is uncovered by his wealthy wife. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis (in perhaps her best role), Tom Arnold (in an exceptional film debut), the late, great (and scene-stealing) Bill Paxton, Tia Carrere, Art Malik and Eliza Dushku, True Lies is a delightfully wry action comedy with larger-than-life scenes built around a novel story about a couple who realize their ideal partner is standing right next to them.

True Lies was released on July 15, 1994, and grossed a whopping $365 million worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing film of the year behind The Lion King and Forrest Gump. Critics were divided on the film, with many criticizing the lengthy second act in which Schwarzenegger’s Harry Tasker spends considerable resources spying on his wife after learning of her alleged affair with Paxton’s mysterious Simon.

It takes a while for True Lies to really get going, but the middle act is crucial to the third act’s climax. We also get to see some of Paxton’s best comedic performances as Simon, the sleazy used car salesman posing as a super spy:

Gibson (Tom Arnold) also stands out in these sequences by giving Harry much-needed advice about his love life:

More crucially, True Lies blends Schwarzenegger’s comedic flair with his honed action talents better than any other film of his career. Twins and Kindergarten Cop showcased his softer side at the expense of the thrilling escapades audiences craved, while T2 gave Schwarzenegger a few brief moments of levity. In contrast, True Lies approaches its subject matter in a lighthearted way, allowing its cult star to poke fun at his hulking image (e.g., “I married Rambo!”) while simultaneously amplifying and exploiting it.

A great example of this is the scene in which Harry is confronted with the effects of a powerful truth serum:

The way he deals with his wife’s infidelity is downright comical:

Of course, the gist of this is that Harry is cheating to some extent too. He gets to travel the world, kill bad guys, tango with beautiful women and fly fighter jets while his wife Helen slowly wastes away in domestic servitude. He realises that she too craves adventure, which leads to the sexy (and hilarious) striptease sequence:

The character dynamics eventually give way to monstrous scenes and this is where True Lies really shines. From a James Bond-esque opening action sequence to the breathtaking climax involving a Harrier jet, Cameron delivers a big-budget spectacle of the highest order, packed with stunning effects, fantastic stunts and the usual assortment of Hollywood kitsch:

Terminator 2 remains my favorite Schwarzenegger film, but True Lies features his best overall performance. More than any other film in his oeuvre, it manages a deft balance of action, drama, and comedy, resulting in a unique summer thriller with a healthy dose of heart and testosterone-fueled excitement. Back then, it was hard to imagine Schwarzenegger would ever fall off the mountain at this stage of his career.

Unfortunately, a few poor filmmaking choices, the ever-changing cinematic landscape, and a questionable foray into politics dampened Schwarzenegger’s shimmering star power, leaving him to ride on his early success for the next three decades. I’d love to see the big guy resurrected later in his career, perhaps in James Cameron’s Avatar series or another Predator flick. Hell, I’d take Red Heat 2.

However, if it doesn’t have that final hurrah, True Lies is a great conclusion to a remarkable superstar career. Thirty years later, the action comedy is still the icing on Schwarzenegger’s proverbial cake and a great example of what an action movie can do when put in the right hands.