The Last Boy Scout

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
And then some.

"This is the '90s. You don't just go around punching people. You have to say something cool first."

Joe Hallenbeck

The Last Boy Scout is a 1991 action film starring Bruce Willis as former Secret Service agent Joe Hallenback, now working as a private detective, and Damon Wayans as retired professional football player Jimmy Dix. The two join forces to solve the murder of Dix’s girlfriend Cory (played by the then-obscure Halle Berry), leading them into a conspiracy and the plotted assassination of a senator. The entire film consists of often violent action scenes and an endless parade of one-liners. Classic example of better than it sounds.


Tropes used in The Last Boy Scout include:

Joe: You're the bad guy.
Milo: I am the bad guy.

Milo: Just once, I would like to hear you scream in pain.
Joe Hallenbeck: Play some rap music.

  • Crapsack World: Taken almost to parodic heights.
    • "Nobody likes you. Everybody hates you. You're gonna lose."
  • Deadpan Snarker: Hallenbeck always win the snarking contest against other characters. See below.
  • Driven to Suicide: Billy Cole, after shooting several opposing players.

Ain’t life a bitch?

  • The Dragon: Milo.
  • Drugs Are Bad: Manages to do this in a reasonably subtle way, contrasting Joe's zero tolerance with justifying Jimmy's addiction through his tragic backstory.
  • Embarrassing Middle Name
  • Eureka Moment: Overlaps with Oh Crap with Joe, as Jimmy hints that the supposed key he tossed into Marcone's fireplace is "the kind that Shred."
  • Faux Affably Evil: Marcone and Milo. Both lose their niceness VERY quickly.
  • Friend to All Children: Despite his drug problems and short temper, Jimmy is remarkably good with kids, if Darian is any indication because they quickly bond with each other after a little friction.
  • Gorn: Brutal moments punctuated by humor. There is a scene where Bruce Willis punches Chet’s NOSE through HIS BRAIN!!!! Also the infamous helicopter scene.
  • Helicopter Blender: Milo, after being shot by a SWAT team, falls into the blades of a helicopter. The result is the upper half of his body turning into Ludicrous Gibs.
  • If We Survive This

Joe Hallenbeck: "I swear to Christ that if I survive this fucking case I'm gonna dance a jig." He does.

"Told ya."

Jimmy: What would Joe do...(Beat) He'd kill everyone, and then smoke some cigarettes.