After two terms as California’s Governator, Schwarzenegger slipped comfortably back into pictures with ‘The Last Stand,’ a modern Western, then crammed into the wide screen, as if it were a service elevator, with fellow ’80s muscle car Sylvester Stallone in ‘Escape Plan.’

The quote discusses Arnold Schwarzenegger's transition from political life back to acting after serving as California’s governor for two terms. It highlights his return to cinema with a film called "The Last Stand" and then appearing alongside Sylvester Stallone in another movie, "Escape Plan." The author uses vivid imagery to describe how these actors fit into their roles and films, comparing the process to fitting large items into a service elevator.

At its core, this quote reflects on the career transitions of celebrities who move between different realms of public life—such as politics and entertainment—and then return to acting with high-profile projects. The metaphorical language used here suggests that these actors have such significant presences in popular culture that their re-entry into film is akin to a grand event or spectacle. By mentioning "The Last Stand" and "Escape Plan," the quote also touches on the nature of blockbuster films often associated with action stars like Schwarzenegger and Stallone, where their involvement can elevate the commercial appeal and cultural significance of the movies.

Richard Corliss was a renowned film critic known for his insightful analyses and vivid writing style. He worked extensively at Time magazine and contributed to numerous publications over his long career. His expertise in cinema allowed him to craft perceptive observations about films and the people involved in them, as evidenced by this quote that delves into both the literal events of Schwarzenegger’s film career and the broader cultural implications of such transitions for entertainment icons.