--- title: "The Last Boy Scout: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-last-boy-scout/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-last-boy-scout" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Last Boy Scout (1991): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 9 reviews: 4 positive, 4 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified approval, with praise clustering around Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans’ chemistry, the sharp put-downs and the elaborate action. Most critics find something to enjoy in the hard-edged humour, even when the buddy-action formula feels familiar. The stronger notices welcome its nastiness and ironic edge rather than treating them as obstacles. Slant Magazine particularly admires Tony Scott’s busy visual style and his smoggy, heat-shimmered Los Angeles. The reservations concern how little the plot matters once the shooting starts, alongside the thin treatment of women. There is a wide spread between enthusiastic genre recommendations and outright rejection, though several reviews settle on entertaining but unremarkable. The Los Angeles Times is the clearest dissenter, finding the film slick and empty despite admiring the editing and Willis’s weary performance. The central divide is over whether the jokes and action compensate for the familiar plotting and bloodshed. ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 4/5. 4 October 2026. Cole calls the film a delightfully nasty, sardonic action noir and says Arrow’s UHD presents it in all its grimy glory. He singles out Tony Scott’s more-is-more visual style, especially its smoggy, heat-shimmered Los Angeles. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/the-last-boy-scout-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review-tony-scott/) ## Empire — Jo Berry Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Berry finds the film nearly five-star action entertainment, recommending it to fans of the genre. She praises the fast, funny one-liners and Willis and Wayans’ delivery, while criticizing the thin portrayal of women. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/last-boy-scout-review/) ## Time Out — NF Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The review presents the film as a successful, familiar action comedy with an ironic edge. It praises the elements as well executed and the smart-mouthed tone. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-last-boy-scout) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 1991. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its headline frames the film around a struggling private eye, but offers no specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/13/movies/review-film-private-eye-on-the-skids-still-trying.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 13 December 1991. Ebert gives the film a mixed verdict, finding its buddy-action formula more familiar than compelling. He singles out the film’s hard-edged, jokey tone as part of its appeal. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-boy-scout-1991) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 3/5. Jones calls it a flashy, foul-mouthed action film that sacrifices plot for shoot-outs and car chases. He says the engaging chemistry between Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans, along with their snappy put-downs, lifts it above the ordinary. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-sdxg00/the-last-boy-scout/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1990. The critic finds the film entertaining but ultimately unremarkable, calling it a mindless shoot-'em-up. They praise its amusing juvenile put-downs and elaborate action sequences, while noting that the tangled plot is often resolved through violence. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/the-last-boy-scout-1200428701/) ## Los Angeles Times — MICHAEL WILMINGTON Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 1991. Wilmington finds the film slick, empty, and overly confident in its blood-soaked escapism. He praises the editing, Bill Medley’s singing, Noble Willingham’s villainy, and Bruce Willis’s weary performance. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-13-ca-270-story.html) ## Den of Geek — Matt Edwards Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 May 2013. Edwards finds the film an overlooked, entertaining action movie that falls short of its potential. He particularly praises Shane Black’s sharp script and inventive action, while criticizing the treatment of women and the awkward ending. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/looking-back-at-tony-scotts-the-last-boy-scout/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-last-boy-scout.md