Director: Steve Carver
Starring: Chuck Norris, David Carradine, Barbara Carrera
Running Time: 108 minutes
Synopsis: In El Paso, JJ McQuade (Chuck Norris) is a Texas Ranger and martial arts expert, unwillingly teamed with the inexperienced "Kayo" Ramos (Robert Beltran). JJ meets the alluring Lola (Barbara Carrera), who is in a relationship with shady businessman (and also martial arts expert) Rawley Wilkes (David Carradine). A violent weapons heist in the area draws the attention of the FBI's Agent Jackson (Leon Isaac Kennedy). Despite initial tension, JJ, Kayo, and Jackson team up to investigate, leading to a showdown with Wilkes.
What Works Well: In a bad movie with much to love, the sheer audacity of teleporting peak Spaghetti Western vibes into modern-day Texas has to be saluted. A few sunbaked shots are epic (including McQuade in full-glory silhouette), and the overblown Francesco De Masi music score does not leave a single Morricone note behind. The final showdown between McQuade and Wilkes is a bone-crunching legend, only surpassed by the jaw-dropping spectacle of McQuade (with beer in hand) and his truck emerging from the grave. The supporting cast includes Western stalwarts R.G. Armstrong and L.Q. Jones.
What Does Not Work As Well: All the writing, acting, staging, and plot points land with the tinny clang of cringey low budget incompetence, and the attempts at a romance between Norris and Carrera are awkward enough to be simultaneously hilarious and tragic. McQuade punches, kicks, or shoots a deserving target seemingly every minute of every day.
Key Quote:
Jackson: It's like somebody doesn't like you McQuade.
McQuade: I make a few enemies here and there.
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