Stars: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Common
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Grade: B-
Reviewed by: Adam Mast, Zboneman.com
Wanted is a big, loud, stupid movie, but for most of it's running
time it works. Why? Well, primarily because it appears to know that
it's big, loud, and stupid.
Based on the comic book series by Mark Millar, Wanted features Atonement's James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson, an apathetic office drone so bored with his mundane lifestyle that he doesn't even bother to try and make things better for himself. He simply allows those in his life to walk all over him. One fateful evening when picking up stress relieving medication at a pharmacy, the mysterious Fox (played by Angelina Jolie) appears out of nowhere and informs Wesley that he may be more important than he realizes. Their brief conversation is abruptly cut short when a mad man with a gun targets Wesley for assassination. Shortly thereafter, this one-time cubicle prisoner realizes that he has a special gift that makes him a perfect match for an underground network of assassins known as "The Fraternity".
Wanted could be best described as The Matrix meets Fight Club, only with a heap load of humor. By design, the action sequences are outlandish and completely absurd, but the film moves at such a feverish pace, that it's hard not to enjoy it. Be warned however, Wanted is uber-violent and it doesn't apologize for it. This is one decadent flick.
McAvoy has a good time playing the nobody who becomes a somebody, and what's most interesting about his character is that he ultimately comes to find that there's a fine line between the boring life he once lead and that of a professional assassin. Angelina Jolie is tailor made for this stuff. She's tough, spunky, and drop dead gorgeous. The film also stars Morgan Freeman. The veteran actor is incredibly playful as the leader of "The Fraternity".
Director Timur Bekmambetov – creator of the Day Watch series - seldom gives the audience a chance to catch their breath, and even though Wanted is overloaded with ridiculous, over the top action, he stays true to the hyper realized universe he's created. There's a train sequence in particular that's an absolute stunner.
As dumb and hollow as Wanted appears to be, the movie looks good and believe it or not, there are some clever themes flowing just below the surface. Case in point, the final five minutes of the picture actually has something to say. It's not exactly a subtle statement, but it works like a charm. Wanted is derivative to be sure and the big plot twist isn't terribly surprising, but as a straight up, balls to the wall action extravaganza, it delivers the goods more often than not.
