In my review for The Best Man (2023), I pointed out that Dolph Lundgren had appeared in several awful films, but his fans always found a reason to watch theme was usually the only reason to watch these films. I was thus looking forward to his latest film, Wanted Man. The reason for this was the fact that this was not only Lundgren acting in the film, but he also directed it.
Every time Lundgren goes to the directing seat, the outcome is always successful. His, The Mechanik (2005), Missionary Man (2007) and Command Performance (2009) were outstanding solo features of Lundgren released later in his career. All of these films complemented his character and style as a shooter, who is great and no-nonsense and just gets the job done when it is time for action.
Even weaker efforts from a director, such as those in the recent Castle Falls (2021) still managed to have good action and entertaining performances, therefore even if Nice Guy Worked didn’t shine like his best, I knew I would still have a good time. Unfortunately I was proven wrong, with Wanted Man being one of Lundgren’s worst directed films and really having nothing to show for in the action department.
This was quite unexpected considering that Wanted Man is rather a long term project for Lundgren, one that has been more than ten years in the works. Maybe it is me who has a problem because I thought Lundgren directed a different type of film than the one he actually did, but since this is an action movie it makes for a very miserable outcome considering how it is marketed out.
It isn’t a total wash to an extent so that there is enough here to at least have Wanted Man be a good watch, especially for Lundgren fans. The screenplay made by Lundgren and Michael Worth and Hank Hugues on the other hand is predictable, but it contains some features that are able to make things a bit more interesting.
As far as the plot is concerned, it develops pretty much the way one would imagine although it is not afraid to go to certain places and pull some punches. In fact, I think Wanted Man may have fared better than it did with me if it was sold as the drama it clearly is, rather than a typical Lundgren actioner where action seemed an afterthought. I suppose with Lundgren being involved he wouldn’t have much choice, as there are certain expectations that come with his involvement.
But the characters are another plus point, and make Wanted Man somewhat stand out, especially Lundgren’s frankly racist Johansen. When we are first introduced to him, he is already in trouble for a discriminatory rant that was video taped. Even though his captain Roger Cross manages to salvage his career, the man still comes across as an asshole who blames all of his trouble on the Mexicans. In fact, this was interesting and even entertaining reminding one of films made back in the 70’s when kinds of things were more permissible and filmmakers did not care about whether their heroes were likeable but rather interesting to observe.
I also found it worthwhile that Lundgren’s character was designed around his age, with some suggesting that he ought to have hung his boots by now. It goes without saying that his profession has had adverse effects on his body, being dependent on painkillers throughout his active duty. Even his injured ankle, which Lundgren underwent surgery to repair, is likewise referenced, which contributes to why his Johansen is not as athletically agile as he once was. Johansen is a character who seems as though his prime was satisfactory for him to make a career out of it, but his browsed edges took away his sheen.
In light of the unfavorable media coverage directed at him, Johansen is transported to Mexico for the purpose of transporting two prostitute witnesses across the border to provide incriminating evidence for the murder of two undercover DEA agents in a robbery gone wrong. As any reasonable individual might anticipate, those who were responsible for the robbery would prefer the witnesses not to appear in court. However, those witnesses attempted to do so, and went after the covet police escort, with Johansen and prostitute Rosa (Christina Villa) as the only witnesses who lived to tell the tale.
Having been wounded in the attack, Johansen is uncertain who he can trust. He and Rosa, his only ally, will have to stick together in order to stay alive. Throughout the movie, racist tendencies and opinions of Johansen are blossomed gradually as he realises that survival also requires help from people he has marginalized before, for example, Rosa’s family are the ones that jeopardized their lives to ensure his safety.
It is in this context that the character work is the most pleasurable with some enjoyable dialogic exchanges taking place and what is arguably the film’s strongest fight sequence. It would have been commendable had there been more such sequences later on in the movie as Wanted Man had a lot of potential. Instead of getting to the last climax with anticipation created throughout the film, it ends up in unnecessary drag interactions followed by a last fight scene which was over in a matter of seconds and was far more anticipated than what it turned out to be.
Counting this short brawl, there are around three sequences of realistic action in the film, which are in fact rather insignificant. The strongest engagement involving gunplay as such of the film occurs at mid point as people argue. It is with a devastating shotgun blast that Lundgren decimates his enemies during an entertaining and effectively executed home invasion sequence.
Another feature of Lundgren the director which I admire is his unrefined love for the old school style action. While some might opt for the usual digital blood, he is known to use blood squibs, and this always has a nice touch of realism to his action scenes. Such examples can be observed in his work for the mechanik and the rather underappreciated Icarus a.k.a. The Killing Machine (2010). The home invasion scene is entertaining and a little more focus on such aspects would have improved the overall experience of the film.
But of course Lundgren is not the only 1980s action star in Wanted Man, later seen is fan favourite Michael Pare as one of Johansen’s former cop buddies. He does not have a lot of scenes, probably more than two or three but in all of them he has very little to do in terms of playing the role itself. However this is not a concern for Pare as he goes on to make the best out of such situations and makes sure he is quite noticeable.
Kelsey Grammer’s name might be the most prominent on the movie’s poster, but he only appears on screen for about the same time as Pare. It really isn’t a mystery how Grammer plays into the storyline, but he is always a great character, plus he wears some great shirts that are worth a mention. Most recently, in the second half of his career, he has appeared in quite a few DTV/VOD movies, some of which were better than others. Wanted Man is not a masterpiece, but it’s also not Money Plane (2020).
Film’s director high Half-Maori and Half-Portuguese female looks relative newcomer Christina Villa to Lundgren’s first screen appearance. It’s hard to say if this was intentional. The two get along quite well, although I didn’t understand why the script decided to hint at a romance between the two in the Saaho Watch Online For Free Movie.
Such a waste of possibilities the film Wanted Man turned out to be. And maybe as time goes on I will have a different perspective. After all, I walked into the theater anticipating nothing but action, and found myself watching an action film filled with unnecessary conversations.
As far as Wanted Man goes, I can say that Lundgren was certainly not short changed. He takes the leading centre stage instead of being a supporting character like in The Best Man, Showdown at the Grand, or Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Out of these three, only Showdown at the Grand did I find worth recommending. Similar to Wanted Man, it could have been better, but there are enough interesting additions to make it worthwhile.
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