Low Flunky

One of the slightly more obscure characters in "Tango & Cash" is Face, which is the only name given to (and the only name necessary for) the character played by Robert Z'Dar. Z'Dar's entire career has been based on his rather incredible visage. At the risk of sounding unkind, he is the only performer I can think of who would stand a fair chance of credibly portraying Rocky Dennis without makeup or other effects. You surely have seen him in something.

He doesn't have a ton of scenes. In the film's opening scene, which sets up Stallone's Ray Tango, he drives a gas tanker which turns out to be concealing loose cocaine where the gas should be. Tango captures him after foiling the plot. Even if that was where it ends for him, he would be very memorable. He just drives the truck and reacts to the actions of supercop Ray Tango, but he does it while having the aforementioned incredible lantern-shaped face.


He later appears in the prison where Tango & Cash are sent, understandable upset with Tango at having been arrested (and rather thoroughly injured) by him. He seems to have no particular beef with Gabe Cash, so I wonder if he would have stayed out of the plan led by Yves Perret if Tango were not involved. In any event, his encounters with Tango in the prison end no more favorably than the one outside the prison. It's tough luck for him.

It's sort of regrettable that Face doesn't remain in the action after Tango and Cash get out of the prison. He would be fun to have in the mix in the film's conclusion as the two titular cops make their final assault on Perret. Requin, Perret's chief henchman, does have a flunky at that point, and I see no reason why it should be some new, anonymous guy when we could be enjoying a character in whom the film has already invested. It's too bad. The film is perfect, but it could have been perfecter.