When Dolph Lundgren last sat on the director’s chair, he made an awesome action movie called Castle Falls (2021) starring him and Scott Adkins in the lead roles. He returns to filmmaking with the actioner Wanted Man (2024). But what separates the two movies is the quality of the script, with Lundgren taking over writing duties for the latter.
The plot follows a racist American cop, played by Lundgren, who must escort two witnesses to an attack on DEA agents – from Mexico to the United States. In between this narrative he finds himself wanted for murder in Mexico.
The supporting cast includes the big name of Kelsey Grammer and also the not so well-known Christina Villa. Everyone suits their roles perfectly especially Lundgren. But acting is not the main reason to watch action flicks.
There is action but not a lot of it. Some good battle sequences with shotguns and assault rifles are there but these are quite limited in time and scope.
The plot is also very predictable. I guessed the ending after thirty minutes into the running time.
Wanted Man is not without its merits. The transition of Lundgren’s character from a narrow-minded detective to a non-racist one is commendable. He starts seeing different points of view when he finds himself wanted in Mexico for a crime he didn’t commit. This is the film’s strongest element.
However, a minority of good heart-pumping scenes and a virtuous story, can’t save Wanted Man from the makings of a generic B-movie. Die-hard Dolph Lundgren fans might still enjoy this venture, but for hardcore low-budget action fans, Wanted Man is a disappointment.
The Rating
2 out of 5.
