Wanted Movie Review
Wanted-I Was Truly Stunned But I Wanted More
Wanted is a shocker. I mean a real, legitimate shocker. Now, you’re probably awaiting the punch line, but I do mean it. While the film has some big time problems one thing is clear-director Timur Bekmambetov of Night Watch/Day Watch fame did an awesome job. The budget on this film was somewhere around $70-$80 million but looks much more expensive. This proper use of budget is truly evident when Wanted is compared to its big-budget brethren, such as this summer’s Iron Man or The Incredible Hulk. Those films had budgets that were nearly double that of Wanted, yet felt cheaper, more video-gamish. Wanted has a great look to it and some really fun action sequences-mindless and offensively stupid mind you, but fun action sequences. The visual effects alone make Wanted worth seeing and the acting, considering the material, is actually okay. So, good job Timur!
That was the good, now for the bad. This movie, based on a comic book, is hit-in-the-head-with-a-shovel dumb. Wanted is “we don’t talk about Cousin Bobbie” dumb. It looks great, its fun to watch, it sucks you in, but its stupid as all out hell. A twenty-something named Wesley, no not the one from Mr. Belvedere, but Scottish actor James McAvoy, is a spineless accounting sort of a man, who discovers that he is the target of an assassin. He is rescued by Angelina Jolie (Fox) and learns that he is in fact, a sort of superhero that has latent superhero like abilities. You might be thinking you have heard all of this before and you would certainly be 100% correct, as Wanted does borrow very frequently and very often from other films.
The script does take some unexpected twists and turns but you’re left wishing that Wanted had better established a few plot elements, such as why and how these characters are superhuman. It is explained, with one line of dialogue. We are left with what feels like a giant plot hole. Then there is the pain freak aspect of the script, which often makes Wanted seem as if it was written by Bill Murray’s Little Shop of Horror’s character Arthur Denton. If you don’t understand after seeing Wanted, rent Little Shop of Horrors and you should get it. You should have seen Little Shop of Horrors anyway. Of course, there are other problems like Hollowood (not misspelled see disclaimer) once again injecting its favorite subject of nepotism. Yippie! Never fails in these kinds of films. If you are exceptional, well, that is because your daddy was exceptional. Sure, history is proving that over and over, isn’t it?
In a word, the script is at times weird and fails to explain much within the bounds of its own universe. Yet, there is no doubt that it is a visually interesting film and at times you can’t take your eyes off the screen. I mean, curving bullets, well, that is pretty cool. Timur did a great job with the money allocated and that is a big, big deal in my eyes. Give Timur the budget that Christopher Nolan had, and to some extent wasted, for The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight truly would have been the masterpiece so many claim it to be. (Oh, I’m going to be knocking The Dark Knight for along time-we’re talking 2012, 2013 long time here.)
Story C+ (The story is fun, but largely aimed at the dullest of the dull. Yet, there some good ideas scattered about and a couple of twist that most audience members won’t see coming.)
Acting B (It is indeed quite strange to see such good acting in such a basically silly film, but Wanted does have it. Morgan Freeman and Terrence Stamp toss in some good performances that really flush Wanted out. James McAvoy is almost a good enough actor to make you forget that he isn’t, under any circumstances, in any universe, a leading man/action hero. What are you trying to pull now Hollowood? I guess after successfully pulling off the Shia LaBeouf as action hero con job you think they can do it again, don’t you? Then again, like we the people have a say in anything.)
Visuals A- (The film has visuals to spare. Wanted was well thought through in pre-production, from story boarding to location selection. Timur earned his paycheck.)
Originality/Innovation B+ (You have to give Wanted some big points for visual originality, and there are some original concepts in the script. If only there had been better explanations of key points in the mythology of this universe.)
Enjoyability Grade B+ (I enjoyed it despite the fact that I felt like a moron in the process. Wanted is one of those rare films that rise about large core mistakes.)
Home Theater/HD Factor A- (This will look great on blu-ray and in HD. I would think a must have when it hits the shelves.)
Overall Grade B (This might be the highest grade I ever gave to a script that is this weak. I feel that it is a real testament to Timur, who may really wow us if the Hollowood gods give him Batman or Lord of the Rings type money. Wanted made over $250 million and I am surprised it was not more. In fact, it probably should have done even better.)
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