REVIEW: Wanted - Fruit of the Loom

Grade: C+
Starring: James McAvoy (Wesley); Morgan Freeman (Sloan); and Angelina Jolie (Fox).

You know a film is in trouble when it features a loom, peanut butter, and rats. I wish I was kidding, but those three elements are vital to understanding the convoluted, improbable mess that is “Wanted.”

The film, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, tries its very best to rip off “The Matrix.” Ne’erdowell protagonist? Check. Boring office job, cubicles and all? Check. Generic name? Check (Wesley Gibson). But why stop there? The protagonist here is emasculated to the point of castration. He has a cheating girlfriend and an overweight female boss who makes his life miserable. I specify that the boss is female because the weird undertone of the film where practically all of Wesley’s troubles are caused (to varying degrees) by women. The abuse he suffers at the hands of the supervisor is such that poor Wesley is reduced to having panic-attacks, which he controls with some sort of prescription pills. As far as the philandering, Wesley simply ignores it. Curious. In any case, the events that quickly unfold one night will change Wesley’s existence forever.

The Plot

One thousand years ago, a secretive society known as “The Fraternity” was established. The group consisted of members with tremendous abilities to: (a) take major blows to the head and other sensitive body parts followed by a swift recovery; and (b) curve bullets. The “curving” the bullets part is facilitated, obviously, by keen targeting skills. These gifted individuals are given assignments to kill and they are so effective in accomplishing their missions that they never miss a target volitionally. Well, hardly-ever.

The film opens with a cleverly-shot assassination attempt of one of the Fraternity members by another. The “new” visual effect introduced here traces the path of a bullet from what appears to be a mile away. And it is as exciting as it sounds. The film offers nothing that can be described as innovative or different or challenging. It is a by-the-numbers endeavor that fails to incite the least bit of credibility or imagination. I’m not sure what I found more irritating, the cavalier excuses yarned to relieve the audience of any discomfort about assassinations that are proscribed by some magical loom or the cartoonish plot contrivances that appear to have been drawn up, at best, by a drunken frat boy.

Wesley’s quest to avenge his father (and save his own heiny in the process) takes an interesting turn during the film’s final act, but alas, it’s too late. All the rats and peanut butter in the world (and even Terrence Stamp!) could not save the film from its disastrous denouement.

The Performances

James McAvoy joins the long list of actors playing the young hero at the cusp of discovering his supernatural abilities. McAvoy is a fantastic actor, equal parts vulnerability and cheekiness. I’ve deeply admired his work in varied fare like “Atonement,” and “The Last King of Scotland.” This is why I’m sad to report that he was woefully miscast. Don’t get me wrong, McAvoy has a grand ole time inhabiting Wesley’s skin, and his excitement is contagious; but this might be one of those rare occasions where an actor is so above the material at hand that he ends up being a disservice to the whole thing. McAvoy’s Wesley does not really change. There is no real transformation, but rather we see an actor biding his time, fully aware that “the best is yet to come” in a few minutes. I’m not looking for Stanislavski in summer movies, but I was oddly disconnected from this protagonist in a way that I was not from a Thomas Anderson. And, given Keanu Reeves’ acting skills, that’s saying a lot.

The always-reliable Morgan Freeman does a serviceable job in a disposable archetype of a role – Morpheus he ain’t. I hope the paycheck was substantial.

Which brings me to Angelina Jolie, the one highlight in this film. Jolie could truly become the 21st century action film star if she wanted to, but judging by her latest film choices, she’s happy to jump in and out of genres, so don’t hold me to that. Her strange beauty makes one wonder if film stars are truly earthlings. Her knowing smirk and fearless physicality bring on the necessary ingredient of any action film: adrenaline. Jolie, as Fox, does not do anything that is earth-shattering, and she’s given variations of this same performance in films too numerous to mention, but she is a joy to watch: it’s simply sensational to see a woman kick ass on a continuous basis, and that she does—in spades.

Overall

Watch at your own risk: predictable plot twists and too many set ups that have no real pay off. Less than stellar performances by the leads, with the exception of Ms. Jolie. Also features a rambunctious, pounding soundtrack by Danny Elfman.