First Look: Schwarzenegger back in charge

What: “The Last Stand”

When: Opening Friday

Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville and Rodrigo Santoro

Director: Kim Jee-woon

The story: Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger), a former LAPD narcotics officer, keeps the peace in Sommerton Junction. But when a drug kingpin (Eduardo Noriega) escapes from custody, his sleepy border town is overrun by law enforcement looking for their last chance to capture the escapee.

The buzz: While he’s appeared in a handful of movies since becoming California’s governor in 2003 – most notably small roles in the two “Expendables” movies – this is Schwarzenegger’s first leading role since “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.”

– CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE