Last Flag Flying
Thirty years after serving together in the Vietnam War, Larry, Sal and Richard reunite for a different type of mission: to bury Doc's son, a young Marine killed in Iraq. Forgoing the burial, the trio take the casket on a bittersweet trip up the coast to New Hampshire – along the way reminiscing and coming to terms with the shared memories of a war that continues to shape their lives.
Critics Sentiment
The trio visits Jimmy Hightower's mother in Boston
Doc reads Larry Jr.'s letter expressing gratitude and final wishes
The film peaks during the compassionate visit to Mrs. Hightower in Boston (8.5) but drops significantly in the final letter reading (6.1) as critics felt it abandoned earlier anti-establishment themes for conventional sentiment.
Critics praised the strong ensemble chemistry between Cranston, Fishburne, and Carell throughout the journey, with particular acclaim for the emotional authenticity of their Vietnam veteran brotherhood. The film builds effectively through road trip bonding and reaches its emotional peak when the men choose compassion over truth with Mrs. Hightower. However, many reviewers felt the ending compromised the film's earlier anti-authority stance for overly conventional sentiment.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 38
Steve Carell
Larry 'Doc' Shepherd
Bryan Cranston
Sal Nealon
Laurence Fishburne
Reverend Richard Mueller
J. Quinton Johnson
Charlie Washington
Deanna Reed-Foster
Ruth Mueller
Yul Vazquez
Lieutenant Colonel Wilits
Graham Wolfe
John Redman
Jeff Monahan
O'Toole
Dontez James
DAFB Guard
Tammy Tsai
Mother (Irene)
Richard Barlow
Angry Father
Cathy O'Dell
Grieving Mother
Jane Mowder
Rental Truck Employee
Richard Robichaux
Anorak
Jerry Lee Tucker
Raincoat
Marc Moore
Hyped-up Employee
Kate Easton
Phone Shop Clerk
Cicely Tyson
Mrs. Hightower
Sarah Silk
Front Desk Motel Employee
Ted Watts Jr.
Leland
Crew
Write a Review
Rate each story beat:
