"Wanted: Dead Or Alive" was by no means an Oscar worthy film (or even an especially well made one), but it marks Hauer's peak in the late 80's before he ran his career into the ground by appearing in an endless string of 3rd and 4th rate films in which he was often the only thing worth watching. These days his films are often direct-to-video schedule fillers, although I have hope he could yet regain the prominence his talent deserves (in his favor, he's had a meaty role in "Surviving the Game" and a powerful three minute scene in "Sin City" that practically steals the film.) But "Wanted" is a lot of fun due to its setting, its lead character, and its renegade machismo atmosphere. Hauer gets to wear black leather jackets, pistol whip fugitives, drive an enormous truck, keep a cache of oiled-and-ready guns and knives and blackjacks. And he gets to live in a huge warehouse full of motorcycles and weights and electronics that he can play with ANYTIME HE WANTS - it's the ultimate Boy's Club Treehouse/Fortress of Solitude. He's essentially an loner and an outlaw who makes a living by supporting the law - a Lone Ranger for modern times. Any young man between the ages of 15 and 65 wanted to BE this guy at some point in his life - either this guy, or else Batman. So this film practically gets over on the lead character alone.
So all the movie has to do is give him something to do, and someone to be against. For that, the film-makers chose to cast Gene Simmons as a terrorist who is, of course, completely despicable, cowardly, opportunistic, etc., etc. It's an OK choice, I guess, since Simmons has a nice sinister cast to his features, and he looks appropriately mean and hateful and gleefully sadistic in his role. In fact, it's the exact same performance that he put on in a similar role in "Runaway" about the same time. Really, though, it's nothing a dozen other character actors couldn't do better, especially with such a cardboard, unsympathetic character. (I can't help but wonder what M. Emmett Walsh could have done with this role - he could have come across as both lots funnier and 10 times more sociopathic if he'd been given the chance).
So anyway, Hauer is put on Simmon's trail, Simmons get a hint of who is tracking him and decides a preemptive strike is in order, and hijinks ensue. Loved ones are killed or injured, Hauers gets madder and madder, Simmons leers and capers, it turns out that the authorities are double crossing our Hero, giving him even more reason to take off the kid gloves...any one who has ever watched 'renegade cop on the edge' movies can predict how this one will end. One nice touch here is that Hauer ends up stuffing a grenade in Simmon's mouth and pulling the pin, a 'coup de grace' that had not been used yet (to my knowledge).
In spite of the formulaic nature of the plot, and the fact that Simmons is obviously only in this because he was a member of KISS, the film is much better than it should be. There is some kind of alchemy going on here - the director knows how to use his lead actor, and the pacing is good, and lots of little details work out and lines of dialog are given effective readings, etc. Maybe it was the spirit of Steve McQueen hovering over the set...who can say? I am sorry there was never a sequel to this movie with this character, but then again, it might have sucked, so I guess I should count my blessings. After all, I hoped for a sequel to "Lethal Weapon" and got it, only to watch that franchise become a mockery of itself.
In summary: good viewing for anyone into Chuck Norris movies or 'renegade cop on the edge' movies, or action/thriller movies in general. If you like Rutger and haven't seen this yet, change your viewing plans for next Friday night and find yourself a copy.
