What’s It About
Johansen (Dolph Lundgren) is an aging detective whose outdated policing methods have given the department a recent public relations problem.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 deport a female witness (Christina Villa) to the murders of two DEA agents. Once there, he finds his old opinions challenged, and bad hombres on both sides of the border are now gunning for him and his witness.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
“Wanted Man” kicks off with a bang but quickly loses its way, neglecting the character arcs it sets up. The story centers on Johansen, a disgraced cop caught on video assaulting a migrant driver in a bigoted rage. Suspended from the police force, he is offered a job in Mexico to extradite two witnesses of a drug deal massacreJohansen, mentally uncommitted to the mission, ventures into Mexico and gets ambushed by cartel hitmen. Shot and left with a bullet in his gut, he’s taken in by one of the witnesses, Rosa. Handcuffed to a bed, he’s forced to rest while experiencing the real Mexican life and understanding Rosa’s struggle for survival. The fallout from Johansen’s video remains unclear, with protestors at the police station and Hernandez, the captain, treating it lightly, mentioning it’s turned into a meme. The film initially portrays a decent old boy vibe with scenes in a strip club, showcasing the low opinion of Mexicans held by the characters. Sent into Mexico for a mission, Johansen’s disdain for the situation grows. The film becomes a talky drama centered on the relationship between Johansen and Rosa, exploring his realization that not all Mexicans are criminals. The story has trouble connecting the characters, showcasing Johansen’s exposure to a domestic Mexican life. Trouble finds them, leading to an intense mid-movie battle with cartel gunmen. However, the film fails to maintain this momentum, returning to easily telegraphed villainy and ending on generic beats of antagonism. Dolph Lundgren’s performance lacks the excitement needed to elevate the material, and the film’s messages on understanding feel forced and incomplete. In conclusion, while “Wanted Man” starts with potential, it falls into predictability and fails to deliver a compelling narrative. Rating it above two stars or a 3 out of 10 seems questionable and might be influenced by external factors.
OUR RATING – A SOUTHERN BORDER 2