In 2008, Sylvester Stallone tried to revive the “Rambo” franchise, and despite its disappointing outcome, it was hoped that its box office success would prompt Stallone to give his iconic character a proper farewell. Fast forward to 2019, and Stallone has made one final attempt to breathe new life into the franchise with “Rambo: Last Blood.” The story begins with a now retired and peaceful John Rambo living on his Arizona ranch, where he spends his time training horses and caring for his adopted family. However, when his granddaughter Gabrielle is kidnapped by a sex-trafficking ring in Mexico, Rambo heads south to save her. He discovers the brutal world of human trafficking and is almost killed when he first confronts the gang. However, after meeting Carmen, an independent journalist who helps him, Rambo goes back to the gang’s headquarters and rescues his granddaughter. The final part of the movie takes place on Rambo’s ranch where he defends his home against an army of Mexican killers with his homemade weapons.
Despite the clever title, “Rambo: Last Blood” is an overall terrible movie. The script is poorly written, the dialogue is cringe-worthy, and the once-kinetic thrills that made the franchise famous have been replaced with over-the-top violence and CGI gore. The director, Adrian Grunberg, never manages to elevate the movie above its low-quality screenplay. It is strange that Stallone would put so little effort into a role that helped make him a Hollywood legend, especially since his performance in the original “First Blood” was one of his best. The franchise may not have been a critical success, but it was popular enough to warrant a respectable conclusion. “Rambo: Last Blood” does not fit that bill, and hopefully, Stallone will not tarnish the legacy of his beloved character further.
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