Many of these moments are very funny, and a few are downright hilarious. But after a time the film is guilty of the very things it is making jokes about — high body count, low scatological humor, grating rock music, over-the-top explosions, etc.

Typical of this excess is how many of the early jokes are later undermined by the film itself. For example, at one point Danny writes a word on a piece of paper and holds it up to Slater and says, "Say this word." When Slater balks, Danny says, "See? You can't. Because this is a PG-13 movie!" But toward the end of the film, Slater's chief does say the word!

But in terms of sheer moviemaking, the biggest calculated error here is that Schwarzenegger, his director John McTiernan ("Die Hard" and "Predator") and screenwriters Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon," "The Last Boy Scout") and David Arnott ("The Adventures of Ford Fairlane") don't have the courage of their convictions. If this is intended as a "Hot Shots!"-style spoof, then the film should be willing to go for it, at a rapid pace. But "Last Action Hero" is too slow, too long and far too pleased with itself.

The question is whether audiences will be equally pleased. I suspect not.

"Last Action Hero" is rated a rather soft PG-13, considering all the mayhem, however bloodless. There is also profanity, vulgarity and a scene showing a roomful of women who are rather scantily clad.