 Wesley's (James McAvoy) life is over - his pathetic, old one, anyway... Fortunately, it is all because of a girl. Enter sizzling-hot Fox (Angelina Jolie), who crashes into his life and introduces him to the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins, led by the enigmatic Sloan (Morgan Freeman). Seems Wes's long-lost father was killed while working for the Fraternity and Wes has been selected to target the rogue member who murdered him. But before he can complete his assignment, Wes must first uncover the dark secrets behind the Fraternity in order to determine his own destiny. Storyline: A young man finds out his long lost father is an assassin. When his father is murdered, the son is recruited into his father's old organization and trained by a man named Sloan to follow in his dad's footsteps. Written by Anonymous Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman on November 24, 2008 -- Do you make sweaters or do you kill people? Audiences wanting to break out of the action movie doldrums and discover a fresh take on the genre need look no further than Wanted, a sleeper hit of the 2008 summer movie marathon. Utilizing the slow-motion, bullet tracking excitement of The Matrix, car chases that are faster and more furious than most, and featuring a plot twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan proud, Wanted packs quite the punch, and features a unique visual style that sets its apart from more standard-fare run-and-gun Action flicks. While Wanted doesn't feature a lead character that seems destined to burgeon into an icon of the genre, like a John McClane, the rough, gritty edge of a movie like Man on Fire, or the grace and refinement of the ballet of action as seen in something like Face/Off, Wanted nevertheless incorporates much of what made each of these, and other respected action pictures, work. The film blends the new with the old, creating for itself a unique style that pushes boundaries and leaves action-hungry audiences craving more. Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) is a slave to the doldrums of life, wondering if he is the most insignificant human being to ever live. Stuck in a job he hates, surrounded by a boss and co-workers who drive him mad, living paycheck to paycheck, and participating in an unfulfilling relationship, Gibson's only solace comes in the form of anxiety pills that he keeps stashed in his drawer. His life changes forever when a mysterious woman named Fox (Angelina Joile, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) appears at the pharmacy counter as he yet again refills his prescription pills. Gibson soon finds himself in the middle of an intense shot-out in the store that spills over into the city streets as a fast-paced, death-defying car chase. Barely escaping with their lives, Gibson learns that Fox and others like her are part of an ages-old fraternity of assassins known as, well, The Fraternity. Led by the mysterious Sloan (Morgan Freeman, The Dark Knight), Gibson learns of his true identity, the son of a recently-deceased super assassin, himself capable of extraordinary abilities that make him the perfect killing machine. Agreeing to undergo intense training, Gibson endures various forms of physical punishment as he prepares to hunt down the first-rate assassin who killed his father, Cross (Thomas Kretschmann, Transsiberian). If nothing else, Wanted is an extraordinarily fun Action movie that never, ever features a dull moment. Even in scenes not awash in blood, bullets, and general mayhem, the quirkiness of the characters and the stylized approach make the movie more than palatable during the rare moments of downtime. Wanted is perhaps one of the more superfluous movies ever made, but that doesn't make it a wasted outing. Rather than try and hammer home some kind of moral, social, or political statement, Wanted never disguises the fact that it is nothing more, and intends to be nothing more, than a straight, high-octane action extravaganza. Part serious, part comical, part drama, the movie feels like an amalgamation of The Matrix, Shoot 'Em Up, and Office Space, a combination that, if done right, practically guarantees at least a moderate level of success. Wanted is just what one might expect of a film borrowing elements from these three pictures, a wild, crazy, loud, bold, funny, and violent picture that plays out almost more as an action movie lover's favorite dream than anything else. As pure escapist entertainment, they don't come much better than Wanted. If Wanted does feature one underlying theme amongst the stunts, special effects, bullets, and mayhem, it is that of self-discovery and trust. Gibson routinely, it seems, looks for his place in the world, at first searching in all the wrong places. To him, seeing his name appear as a hit on a Google search or the amount of cash in his bank account are the things he turns to for self-gratification and worth. As neither are ever what he wants them to be, he lives an unfulfilling life that does nothing but lead him to swallow more pills. It is finally the sense of purpose and acceptance that breaks him out of his shell to become the man destiny intended. Even if his gift is something supernatural, the determination Gibson eventually shows to honing his skills is impressive, and the old mantra of "no pain, no gain" certainly applies to his training regimen. Still, there is no doubt that Wanted is first and foremost an adrenaline-charged action extravaganza, covered in blood, riddled with bullets, and anything but routine. Wanted offers action viewers something new, something bold, something more thrilling and engaging than the dime-a-dozen action flicks that tend to bore audiences with repetitive action sequences and "been there, done that" special effects. The film never tries to tackle social, moral, or political issues underneath its surface. For the most part, it is what it is, and that is one of the reasons why the film works rather well. Perhaps not destined to be classic, Wanted nevertheless delivers a solid story with a nice twist, first-rate action, groundbreaking stunts and effects, and generally good performances both in front of and behind the camera. Universal's Blu-ray release of this summer blockbuster is another fine effort from the studio. Featuring great picture quality, a deafening reference soundtrack, and a nice assortment of bonus materials, the disc is a must-own for fans. Wanted receives a solid recommendation. (Based on Comic Book) Cast Notes: James McAvoy (Wesley Gibson), Morgan Freeman (Sloan), Angelina Jolie (Fox), Terence Stamp (Pekwarsky), Thomas Kretschmann (Cross), Common (Gunsmith), Kristen Hager (Cathy), Marc Warren (The Repairman), David O'Hara (Mr. X), Konstantin Khabenskiy (The Exterminator), Dato Bakhtadze (The Butcher), Chris Pratt (Barry), Lorna Scott (Janice), Sophiya Haque (Puja), Brad Calcaterra (Assassin Max Petridge). IMDb Rating (07/31/14): 6.7/10 from 246,976 users IMDb Rating (12/30/08): 7.0/10 from 66,468 Votes
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