The quintessential summer popcorn flick.Wesley Gibson is a loser, albeit a really cute loser. He hates his job, he hates his girlfriend, he hates his best friend...he pretty much hates his life. Till one night he's getting his anti-anxiety meds refilled and Fox shows up. She informs him that his father was the top assassin in the world and was killed the previous day. The man who killed him is now after Wesley. She takes him to meet Sloan and some other folks who tell him that they are a secret society of highly trained killers who take out anyone Fate tells them to, and now they want to recruit Wesley. Of course he can't believe a word of this, so he flips out and runs home, only to flip out at work the next day, tell off his boss and hit his best friend in the face with a keyboard. Fox just happens to be waiting for him outside and they drive off together to begin his training into The Fraternity.
I was terrified this would be very similar to last year's Shoot 'Em Up, and I certainly didn't want to live through that debacle again. Alas, James McAvoy's blue eyes drew me in. And what a hella good time I had.
It may all be shallow fluff, but it's fun and that's all I expected it to be. The story was far from groundbreaking, and I had half the twist figured out halfway through the flick, but at least there was a substantial plot that wasn't too over the top. The movie doesn't take itself seriously for a second, but it's not brazenly ridiculous at every turn. It may defy the laws of biology and physics, but you quickly accept it in the context of the story and move on. The action sequences are fantastic and the tone stays light with loads of humor. And there's always something beautiful to look at with James and Angelina in virtually every shot.
Although I sort of enjoyed Shoot 'Em Up in the theater last year, I was incredibly ashamed after seeing it. I would never watch it again nor recommend it to anyone with a soul. Wanted, on the flip side, I'll likely get on DVD and tell anyone who's slightly interested to check it out. It's the most fun I've had this summer with my clothes on.
Rating:
6 pieces of fan mail:
Dude!! (Dudette?) What's wrong with Shoot Em Up? Thats, like, the most awesome movie in awhile. I couldn't stop thinking about it after I saw it and I immedately bought it on DVD when it was available.
I'm dying to see Wanted.
-Jason
I somewhat enjoyed it while I was watching it, but afterwards I was thinking about just how bad the movie was, and I just don't think I could subject myself to it again.
Love Wanted though. I don't feel dirty for saying that out loud.
I liked "Shoot 'Em Up", but what they obviously shot up was the plot because it had so many holes in it! (But Clive Owen naked!) I liked "Wanted" a lot. It was fun, it had some bitchin special fx and James & Angelina were great and I enjoyed going along for the ride with them. I don't know if I am the only one who got a good laugh out of the Andre Bocelli moment, but I suspect that I am. Loads of fun for a summertime movie.
I was trying to put in my name when the computer screwed up and entered my comment without it. It's me again!
The thing is, Shoot Em Up SHOULD be viewed as a type of spoof movie of the over-the-top action genre. The entire movie was just an excuse to have Clive Owen do weird jumps and slides while shooting bad guys left and right. When you're making a movie like that, any plot, even if it's tight as a drum, isn't gonna make sense.
The whole movie could've just been Clive going "Well I feel like shooting a bunch of people today" while chasing Paul Giamotti and it still would be awesome.
-Jason
Hi Mom...do we need commenting lessons? Just kidding. As you know I totally agree with all your points. At least you didn't stop at "Really, really bitchin."
Jason, I approached the film with all that in mind, knew it was suppose to be a spoof, and sort of enjoyed the film whilst in the theater, but can't bring myself to sit through it again.
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