If You Enjoy Splendid Action & Elaborately Choreographed Violence...

Rating: 9/10 (13 July 2008)

...then "Wanted" is exactly what you are looking for. It requires a minor suspension of belief (curving bullets around objects to hit targets on the other side), but if you enjoyed titles like "Fight Club" (which is far more intellectually stimulating, but nonetheless an action flick), "Shoot 'Em Up", "Crank", and "Smokin' Aces" (which Common was in, too) then there is no foreseeable reason why you should not enjoy this delightful action-fest that can slap a smirk on your face in even the most violent moments. I imagine it is an incredibly difficult task to construct a scene where everyone in the audience can gleefully smile as they witness people getting their brains blown out. What's more, I got the vibe that the audience did not feel sadistic while witnessing such scenes, instead many therein chuckling under their breath, if not laughing.
WARNING: Potential spoilers in the next paragraph! Our protagonist, Wesley Gibson, is a character not unlike the Narrator that Edward Norton masterfully acted as in "Fight Club": stuck at a dead-end job, leading an unhappy existence, needing a change-of-pace etc. He is approached by an ancient and secret society of assassins called the Fraternity (which made an exception for Angelina Jolie's character, Fox). After seeing that he has the blood of a naturally-born assassin flowing in his veins, skills with guns that would put Annie Oakley to shame and finally losing his temper at the office, Wesley is brutally trained to become a master killer. He is trained very well, indeed, as I hope you will witness should you see "Wanted." With that, I implore you to see the film in its intended medium: in the theater.
"Wanted" utilizes incredible special effects, a cast of very talented actors, and a storyline that keeps the audience interested just enough, without detracting from a constant pace of spectacular action. "Wanted" will not win any Oscars, but it accomplished what it set out to do: entertain and be fun. You might need to be in the right mood, or even with the right crowd, to enjoy this the way it was intended to be. I, however, went alone, and still had a wonderful time.
Lastly it is based, somewhat, on six-issues of graphic novels by Mark Millar. I am sure I will be looking in the bookstore for these in the near future. Perhaps reading those before seeing the movie will make you appreciate it even more than those who have not. Enjoy!