Wanted Man

This reminded me a little of John Wayne's "Mc Q" (1974) only this time it's Dolph Lundgren who is the curmudgeonly old cop who bends the rules to suit the investigation. That's caused his bosses a bit of an headache, so they want to put that frankly rather odious "Johansen" out to pasture. A trip to Mexico is organised so he can retrieve and escort a vital witness in a double-murder case back to the USA. "Rosa" (Christina Villa) is no shrinking violet and the couple don't exactly hit it off, but gradually that all changes as the pair begin to realise that they are being played. By whom, though? That's the six million dollar question. I'm afraid the presence of Kelsey Grammer in anything (except maybe the early editions of "Cheers") never bodes well for me, and his mediocrity rather sums up this whole thing. It hasn't an original bone in it's body as it follows well established plot lines, constantly escaping from hellish scenarios against overwhelming odds and firepower. It's as if his dark sunglasses gave him a degree of immortality. Rapid healing powers at any rate. Duplicity, police corruption, betrayal - you name it and it's been squeezed into this bland and repetitive thriller that's very short on thrills. Television fodder at best, sorry.

No pun intended - while Dolph is the main character, the important one (story wise) is the witness ... and she has only one thing on her mind ... surviving ... well and doing the right thing I reckon by helping out law enforcement ... without really thinking too much about herself. At least that is what she is telling us.

And why shouldn't we believe her - if we buy that Lundgren is still up for the task (he is not the quickest anymore, suspension of disbelief is important, especially when you have to buy that he would be able to physically fight others ... or get near them, without them killing him first). The action still is kind of decent ... so if you are a fan of the man ... well you could do worse... like being a fan of a different action man who even uses stunt man to walk ... kid you not ... anyway, the message is clear and you also have some good actors rounding everything up ... no surprises here though (twists? Well ... not really)

Lately I have been so into looking got just a good Hollywood movie that I am down to watch anything. So I rented this off Amazon Prime. I will admit, I was not disappointed with this film. It is dark and gritty, but still very enjoyable. The film takes place I believe a time of body cameras where a veteran cop is caught on tape saying racist things to a Hispanic person. There's no denying it's him. His chief sends him on a special assignment at the border where he uncovers more trouble after a attempted assassination. He then learns very quickly that he cannot trust anyone. This isn't a high budget film but it's still good.

Wanted Man stars Dolph Lundgren in a role that capitalizes on his action-hero legacy. Lundgren delivers a solid performance, bringing his trademark intensity and physical presence to the screen. The film's action sequences are engaging, featuring some stunts and fight choreography that fans of the genre will appreciate. The cinematography also adds a polished look, enhancing the overall experience.

However, while the film has some strengths, it also has its shortcomings. The plot feels somewhat formulaic, following familiar action movie tropes without offering much new or innovative. The story can be predictable at times, and character development is minimal, with some roles coming off as one-dimensional. Additionally, the pacing occasionally drags, particularly between the action set pieces, which can make parts of the film feel uneven.

Overall, Wanted Man is a competent action film that benefits from Dolph Lundgren's commanding presence and well-crafted action scenes. Though it doesn't break new ground in the genre and has some pacing issues, it remains an entertaining watch for fans of action films looking for a straightforward, adrenaline-pumping experience.

Disgraced, hard-line detective Mike Johansen (Dolph Lundgren) is given the redemptive task of going to Mexico and extraditing Rosa (Christina Villa) who witnessed the slaying of two DEA agents during a fubar'd drug heist. Not long into Johansen's ostensibly straight forward trip when things quite literally, and figuratively go dangerously south, as Johansen becomes the target of rogue cops from north and south of the border! I will be generous here and simply say that the rudimentary plot is comfortably familiar, and leave it at that, happily, the dynamic presence of the grizzled, hugely charismatic Dolph in front of, and behind the camera gives this gritty crime actioner a dopamine boost! Pacy enough, with some decent squibbage, Wanted Man is a more than credible, dramatically compelling shoot 'em up, eminently watchable fare for action junkies, and a no-brainer for Dolph fans! It must also be said that the Clint Eastwoodian tropes are hella strong in Dolph's exciting Wanted Man, being 2 parts The Gauntlet and one part Gran Torino, and certainly no worse for it! There's lovely chemistry between the beautiful Christina Villa and Mr. Lundgren, and I was rootin' for 'em all the way to the border, man!!!!!