Forget what the critics said.  This movie works beautifully on several different levels.  As an action spoof it is hilarious, with many in-jokes, gags and cameos.  As a fantasy it is ingenious with Austin O'Brien very  appealing as a kid with a "magic ticket" that can transport him  from the real world into the fake world of action films. And it works  splendidly as a send up of Schwarzenegger's movie image giving him a big  chance to do what he does best-poke fun at himself.  It also works as one  of the most original buddy movies ever.  There is a lot going on here and  it will take a few viewings to catch everything but that is what makes a  good movie good.  The action is wall-to-wall, no doubt, like many other  action films, good or bad.  The sequences are very well done but contrived,  just like many of those previously mentioned films. But they are contrived  for a reason-to spoof the genre.  Because a lot of people who originally  saw this didn't get it, it is, in this critic's humble opinion, one of the  most misunderstood films of all time.  That accounted for its bad reviews  and low box office.  But it is my belief that this was largely due to poor  marketing.  When Schwarzenegger (who served as executive producer) would  appear on television to plug it, he made a fatal mistake.  His description  of this as a family movie was wrong.  It is very violent, even though that  too is done for a purpose.  Imagine what a lot of parents thought when they  took their kids to see this and within the first fifteen minutes or so,  several people are killed or injured and there are gunshots and explosions  galore.  It is a mistake that to this day Arnold's career hasn't been able  to completely recover from. Be that as it may, you must see this film for  what it is and enjoy imagination and spoof at its finest.  You will not be  disappointed!