Where to watch Wanted Man
2 Stars
Follows a police officer who must retrieve an eyewitness and escort her after a cartel shooting leaves several DEA agents dead, but then he must decide who to trust when they discover that the attack was executed by American forces.
Even with a scant runtime of 85 minutes (including end credits), Wanted Man feels very thin. Dolph Lundgren stars in addition to directing and co-writing duties. The screenplay, also credited to Michael Worth and Hank Hughes, has the germ of a good idea, but the well-worn genre tropes extinguish the creative spark present in the opening ten minutes.
The year’s most (unlikely) appealing screen pairing of Kelsey Grammer and Dolph Lundgren is the real surprise; the film briefly comes alive in their few shared scenes. I’d be up for a future project that reunites these two Expendables alumni. Wanted Man features gunplay and brutal action sequences, both hallmarks of Dolph Lundgren’s directorial style, as his influences appear to range from Peckinpah to Walter Hill. The savage bursts of unexpected violence are effective in grabbing and holding one’s attention. Wanted Man is an ok Sunday afternoon time-killer, but it’s as disposable and unmemorable as a plastic spoon.
Directed by: Dolph Lundgren
Written by: Dolph Lundgren, Michael Worth, Hank Hugues
Starring: Dolph Lundgren, Christina Villa, Kelsey Grammer