"Lone Wolf McQuade" is essentially a reworking of "Dirty Harry". Although it's set in El Paso and stars Chuck Norris and often kicks/punches, he's essentially the same sort of character...a guy who prefers to work on his own, says little and takes on all sorts of evil.
The story begins with McQuade taking out a group of evil scum...and soon gets chewed out by his boss (a familiar "Dirty Harry" plot device). Later, after his daughter is nearly killed and her boyfriend gunned down, McQuade investigates...even though it's a federal case and McQuade is a Texas Ranger (Texas state police). He does have a partner (Robert Beltran...of "Star Trek: Voyager" fame) but you assume that being the partner of the Lone Wolf is probably a short-term assignment...just like with Dirty Harry. The killing turns out to be part of a weapons theft ring fun by the baddie Rawley Wilkes (David Carradine) and you KNOW by the end of the film there will be an ultimate boss battle between him and McQuade. In between, there are lots of shootings, stompings, kickings, punchings and more.
While this film is clearly a re-working of "Dirty Harry", the film has far less realism due to some cliches. A few of the sillier ones include an opening scene when a guy shoots at McQuade and McQuade just stands there...until ultimately killing the gunman (this happens at the beginning AND end of the movie), the bad guys NEVER cry out for help when McQuade attacks them, cars explode when he shoots them and bullets simply never come close to hitting him. On the plus, side, Norris does his own stunts (some of them are insanely dangerous) and is amazing as a martial artist. Overall, a bit dopey but enjoyable. Good if you just want a mindless action film.
The story begins with McQuade taking out a group of evil scum...and soon gets chewed out by his boss (a familiar "Dirty Harry" plot device). Later, after his daughter is nearly killed and her boyfriend gunned down, McQuade investigates...even though it's a federal case and McQuade is a Texas Ranger (Texas state police). He does have a partner (Robert Beltran...of "Star Trek: Voyager" fame) but you assume that being the partner of the Lone Wolf is probably a short-term assignment...just like with Dirty Harry. The killing turns out to be part of a weapons theft ring fun by the baddie Rawley Wilkes (David Carradine) and you KNOW by the end of the film there will be an ultimate boss battle between him and McQuade. In between, there are lots of shootings, stompings, kickings, punchings and more.
While this film is clearly a re-working of "Dirty Harry", the film has far less realism due to some cliches. A few of the sillier ones include an opening scene when a guy shoots at McQuade and McQuade just stands there...until ultimately killing the gunman (this happens at the beginning AND end of the movie), the bad guys NEVER cry out for help when McQuade attacks them, cars explode when he shoots them and bullets simply never come close to hitting him. On the plus, side, Norris does his own stunts (some of them are insanely dangerous) and is amazing as a martial artist. Overall, a bit dopey but enjoyable. Good if you just want a mindless action film.