The ‘Mad Dog’ Criminal… The ‘Lone Wolf’ Lawman
The Ultimate Showdown
Starring: Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Robert Beltran, L.Q. Jones, Dana Kimmell, Aaron Norris
Director: Steve Carver
1983 | 107 Minutes | PG
“My kinda job doesn’t take vacations.” – Jim McQuade
Lone Wolf McQuade is from the time before PG-13 Chuck Norris. The Lone Wolf McQuade Chuck Norris is the Chuck Norris that inspired the Chuck Norris facts. This is the Chuck Norris that kicks ass and doesn’t even both to take names. He’s spending too much time kicking ass.
When Texas Ranger Jim McQuade’s (Chuck Norris) daughter is threatened by a gang of ruthless gun and drug smugglers, he sets out to bring them down hard.
Even though Lone Wolf McQuade is a PG movie, the language, violence and subject matter are anything but. It isn’t a blood bath or anything but plenty of guys get shot and have visible wounds. McQuade’s love interest also doesn’t wear a bra for the entire movie which lends itself to quite a few suggestive type views of her breasts… not that I was looking. There is no way in hell this movie would be PG if it were made today.
We see McQuade just as his new young partner does. We are sort of in awe that someone like this still exists. McQuade is an old school Texas Ranger. He wears dirty, dingy clothes, drinks Pearl Beer, swears, has a messy house in the middle of nowhere guarded by a pet wolf and most importantly, he takes the law into his own hands. And in case you have seen The Expendables 2 and haven’t yet seen this… this is why you were hammered over the head with Norris’ Booker being a lone wolf.
There is a very western vibe to Lone Wolf McQuade. The opening scene almost tricks you into thinking this is a Wild West movie or something. And despite being fought with machine guns, grenades and RPGs, the final battle is reminiscent of the Showdown at the OK Corral. Even the music would fit right in with some of the old spaghetti westerns I have never been able to get into.
I wouldn’t say that LWM is wall to wall action but it has its fair share and what action is there is done quite nicely. Despite being 30 years old the dusty, dirty fights and gunfights never feel dated.
Lone Wolf McQuade is the type of movie that just doesn’t get made much anymore. The loner cop who’ll take the law into his own hands and be lauded a hero just doesn’t seem to be something studios are going to get behind much these days. Lone Wolf McQuade still ranks as one of Chuck Norris’ best and makes for a good time, I don’t care who you are.
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