Ah, the summer action movie. Since the dawn of man there has not been a better definition of the term "glorious trainwreck". Like clockwork, each year directors, actors and production companies scramble to each get a slice of the wonderful pie that is the summer blockbuster. In a nation where 10% of students have ADD and where 60% of these students will continue to have the affliction throughout adulthood, this means a few things:
High octane action, gunplay, and explosions
Painful attempts to seem cool and badass
Ass
A light frosting of "story"
Enter Wanted, the latest foray into the cluttered junkyard of glorious train wrecks. It is a movie so self aware and so full of itself that my ticket came with a complementary vial of director Timur Bekmambetov's own semen, taken during one of the film's many preview screenings as he screamed "Mein Fuhrer, I can valk!". Wanted is an overly ambitious film to say the least and while it does manage to deliver on many levels, it also manages to roll the audience’s collective eye no more than two seconds after said inspired moments. This is a film for people who know nothing about film. This is a film for people who think Tim Burton is a good director. This is a film for people who think that just because a film strives to be offbeat and stylistic, it actually is. If loved Shoot em Up then you should hop on board.
Wanted tells the tale of one Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), a normal office worker with a shitty life. His fat boss Janice makes work a living hell, his best friend is fucking his girlfriend, and he suffers from horrible panic attacks. He's pretty much living out the American Dream. His life takes a twist when he gets caught up in a gunfight between two assassins, one of whom is the absolutely worthless Angelina Jolie. As it turns out, Wesley is the son of a master assassin and has inherited his father's talent for popping heads open with all the subtlety a bullet can deliver. He joins the Fraternity of Assassins and is assigned by its leader, Sloan (Morgan Freeman) to assassinate a traitor.
The rest of the film is a cliche-fest that feels like a 12 year olds anime fan fiction. Predictable betrayals and revelations are presented as if no one had ever heard the quote "No. I am your father." But that's not why anyone bothered to go and see this movie anyway so why don't we just leave it at that?
Wanted's greatest strengths are the many moments in the film where it is actually funny. The early scenes of Wesley's day to day life are wonderful. A decidedly dry narration contrast with the downright shitty-ness that is Wesley's existence. Additionally, the minor characters in the film are just colorful enough to really add some spice. Unfortunately that is about it. That is not to say the acting is not good. McAvoy puts in a good showing as Wesley, capturing the initial loser his character is and transforming nicely into a time slowing, miracle working master assassin. Likewise, it is good to see Morgan Freeman play another criminal especially after recently seeing Lucky Number Slevin once again. However, one seems to get the feeling that anyone could have done the role and that Freeman is mostly used because many in the audience will snort all of their cinema-bar food from their noses once they get to hear him say "Mothafucka".
"But what of Little Angie Jolie?", one asks. What of her? I must have missed the memo where we all decided that she was talented. Is there anyone in the world who is more overrated that Ms. Jolie whose name is not "Jesus" or "Mohammed"? "But didn't she win an Oscar?", you say? What of it?! I've yet to see a good showing from this woman. Besides, her role in the movie is summed up by criteria #3 on my list above. Ass! You get to see her ass! That is all.
Also, when was it decided that all action scenes have to have painfully shaky camera work? I honestly blame Christopher Nolan and whoever the DP was for Batman Begins.
Overall, Wanted is a good movie to see if you really crave popcorn and hand guns. It is much like Smokin' Aces. It tries too hard to be cool. Ooooh, assassins! Ooooh, a chick whose name is Fox! Ooooh, another generic thing! Some funny moments and a stellar final action sequence do not save this movie from being sub par but they do make it just watchable enough.
Final Letter Grade: D-
Bottom Line: Flashy action scenes are a sight to behold, even as this movie cripples your brain with idiocy.
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