With a musical score by Francesco De Masi and an opening credits sequence that feels very much in line with a Sergio Leone western, expectations surrounding Lone Wolf McQuade on my initial viewing went up a little. Despite the fact that I know Chuck Norris isn’t a very good actor.

Norris plays the titular McQuade, a lone Texas Ranger, who finds himself squaring off against a drug and arms dealer, Rawley Wilkes (David Carradine).

Norris attempts to play this one a little grittier, and McQuade definitely is not as clean and strait-laced as some of Norris’ other characters, something he initially expressed concern about. He was worried about sending the wrong message to younger viewers who were coming to his movies, but perhaps that is what makes this character so appealing, not to mention Norris’ return to the western-action genre with his television series Walker, Texas Ranger.

All the tropes are here, including the rogue cop, McQuade, being saddled with a new partner, Kayo (Robert Beltran). the ex-wife and daughter (who ends up in trouble), a villain who kills needlessly, a dangerous love interest with Lola (Barbara Carrera) who is involved with Wilkes, the baddies kill McQuade’s pet wolf, he gets in trouble with the other agencies and has to go solo. They are all here.

I didn’t like this one as much as The Delta Force, but I do like the fact that Norris’ character was a little darker than the roles he usually plays. And, honestly, it doesn’t surprise me to know that it’s an 80s action classic. I mean I wouldn’t call it that, even at the time if I’d seen it then, I think I would have enjoyed it, but I don’t think I would have called it a classic.

The final confrontation between McQuade and Wilkes feels like a bit of a letdown and the climax doesn’t feel as big and satisfying as it could have been. But that’s mostly a budgetary issue, and some stereotypical choices creatively.

And that’s just sad, as I really like the opening of the film and the way that first sequence is set up and plays out. The further the film goes on, the less gritty it feels.

Oh well.

I may or may not check out some more of Norris’ work, I know I shouldn’t get my expectations too high for some of them, but even for the 80s, his films seem a little less than. I know some people love them, but I just wanted a little more oomph.

We’ll see where my viewing journey takes me next.