'Wanted' Displays the Emotional Maturity of a 13-Year-Old

Rating: 2/10 (8 April 2009)

Most people will not agree with me, but this movie is ridiculously immature to be put out by adults. I love it when people say, "Don't take it too seriously; just disconnect your brain and enjoy." Funny, that sounds sort of disturbing in the "let us tell you what to believe and don't think for yourself" way. Here's why I take issue. Not because I don't know how to lighten up or just sit back and be entertained, but because a number of vulnerable teenage minds are picking up this movie (yes, they have plenty of access to R movies) and taking it seriously. So while we 'more mature' adults are telling ourselves the ideology of "taking control of your life" by getting ticked off at everyone who ever pushed you around is not to be taken seriously, a whole generation of sadly under-parented children is thinking that this is what we mature adults believe (after all, we put out the movie and we helped propagate it by paying money to see it). So, some sadly misunderstood kid decides to take control of his life and take a gun into his school, shoot the girl that turned him down, the teacher that was too hard on him, and the bully that pushed him in the hall. This movie seems to say, "Good for you!" You know what? Grow up. And I think we adults need to do some growing up too and stop excusing the pushing of philosophies like this with the irresponsible lament, "It's only a movie; it's not like it really influences anyone ("hardy-har-har")!"