WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
Jean-Claude Van Damme does the splits and wears bad wigs in a goofy French action-comedy that’s mostly for nostalgic dads.
56%
56%View →The Last Mercenary is basically a mid-life crisis caught on film, but with more high-kicks. It’s a love letter to the 90s action era that doesn't quite land for a modern audience.
If your teen is a film buff who wants to see a legend parody himself, it’s fine for a Friday night. But for most kids, this is going to feel like 'that weird French movie Dad likes.' It’s not 'brain rot,' but it’s definitely not essential viewing.
Best for teens 14 and up who can handle the crude jokes and stylized violence. Younger kids will likely be bored by the subtitles and the aging-hero tropes.
The core father-son reconciliation plot is sweet enough, but it's buried under a mountain of slapstick violence and crude gags that keep it from being truly 'heartwarming.'
It leans heavily on 90s action tropes and Jean-Claude Van Damme's past glory. It’s more of a parody than a creative leap forward.
Standard action movie violence—punches, kicks, and explosions—plus some crude humor and suggestive situations. It's not traumatizing, just salty.
You won't learn much here other than how to pull off a disguise in a French bathhouse. It’s pure, low-calorie entertainment.
If your teenager doesn't know who the "Muscles from Brussels" is, half the appeal of The Last Mercenary evaporates instantly. The movie is built entirely on the meta-joke of a 90s action icon poking fun at his own legacy. For a parent, seeing those signature leg-splits is a trip down memory lane. For a kid raised on the sleek, high-stakes choreography of modern blockbusters, this is going to look cheap.
It’s not trying to be the next great spy thriller; it’s a self-aware parody. If the viewer isn't in on the joke, the whole thing just feels like a "mid" action movie with a lead who is way too old for the stunts.
The biggest hurdle here isn't the subtitles—it's the tonal mess. One minute it’s a somewhat gritty thriller about a legendary agent coming out of the shadows to save his son, and the next, it’s a cartoonish farce featuring ridiculous disguises and cringe-inducing slapstick. Critics were famously split on this; some found it a "diverting action comedy," while others felt the humor "fizzles horribly."
If your family prefers action movies to have consistent stakes, the constant pivot to goofy gags—like the much-discussed pole dancing scene—might be a dealbreaker. It’s more Pink Panther than Bourne Identity, but it doesn't always land the punchline.
This isn't an American blockbuster with a French coat of paint; it’s deeply, weirdly French. The humor leans into a specific brand of absurdity that doesn't always translate to an international audience. If your kid enjoyed the self-aware vibe of movies where actors play "versions" of themselves, they might appreciate the angle. But if they’re looking for a tight, logical plot, they’ll likely find the story about a corrupt government official and an estranged son predictable and a bit sluggish.
Save this for a low-stakes night when you’re in the mood to explain 90s pop culture to a skeptical audience. It’s a "background movie"—something to have on while you're scrolling or chatting, rather than an immersive cinematic experience. If your teen isn't vibing with the first 20 minutes of bad wigs and weirdness, it doesn't get "better" or more serious; it just doubles down on the silliness.
If they want real action, look elsewhere. If they want to see a legend not take himself seriously for two hours, this is a harmless, if mediocre, choice.
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