Wanted Man

Certainly not a bad movie nor a particularly good movie. Rests somewhere in between but, a massive improvement over Dolph's previous directorial effort 'Castle Falls'

Dolph is solid in this and casts himself in a brave role. (Think Eastwood's Gran Torino) He's pretty unlikable in the early scenes as a grizzled racist old cop

But, for me Kelsey Grammer is the one standout in a small role...

Probably a film more for Dolph Lundgren fans but, a vast improvement on his recent output and for a one time watch it will pass the time.

It is well directed for being shot on a shoestring budget. (I presume)

it's a slow burn...it just doesn't quite have the payoff it needed to elevate it.

In my opinion.

**4.8/10 on Imdb seem like a fair rating**

I probably give it 2/5 stars.

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.

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.

This was fine. Nothing memorable and outstanding, but has a great cast. It's a Dolph film and he's the star. The actors do show the age, so don't expect John Wick or anything.

The other stars are in here for a short bit, but play a big role in the movie.

If you like 80's movies, and miss the days of simple plots and easy to follow scenes, then this is it.

Johansen (Lundgren) is an aging detective, whose outdated policing methods have given the department a recent public relations problem. To save his job, he is sent to Mexico to extradite a female witness (Villa) to the murders of two DEA agents. Once there, he finds not only his old opinions challenged, but that bad hombres on both sides of the border are now gunning for him and his witness.

In this film written, directed and starring Dolph Lundgren, we see an aging racist cop having to go to Mexico to get some witnesses to balance out his politically incorrect behavior which was caught on camera. Obviously, bad people don't want the witnesses to survive, so the cop will have to band and survive together with people he despises by default, thus learning a lesson.

It is a familiar concept, done in no way differently from other films that tackled the same issue. It feels more honest, with no ha-ha humor or crazy stunts, though. Dolph is almost 70 years old and it shows, unfortunately. The plot is quite obvious from the beginning and the situations in which some sort of emotional connection could have been built are often wasted. That's why I can't recommend it.

The film also manages to convey, probably accidentally, how the US starts to look to people outside it. In the movie, the Mexicans are all young, vibrant and fearless, even the bad guys. In contrast, the Americans are old, decrepit, stuck in their ways and expecting everybody else to respect their authority. Old cops, hunting for their gone youth, in a country led by old men, changing in artificial ways that don't matter, like politically correctness. Somehow, I doubt that was the message Lundgren was trying to send.

Kelsey Grammer and Michael Paré and also in this, although their roles are minimal. I like Dolph, even if he barely speaks and he barely moves now. It's nostalgia, and this film is banking on it. But it feels like something that should have been done 20 years ago.