had potential yet fell flat half way through

Rating: 6/10 (26 June 2008)

If you ever want to see a film that is a conglomeration of every generic 'slick' action film, then go see Wanted.
I wanted to like this film, I truly did. The first half was enjoyable, the action silly but what I expected. The protagonist's character was likable and sympathetic despite the slightly 'fight club' office feel. After a brilliant section of him being trained (not adding spoilers) I was looking forward to the rest of the film playing out.
WRONG.
The film suddenly spirals down into a pit of frustration with all emphasis on telling a well built up story fused with OTT action abandoned and left for dead at the side of the road. In its place is a series of choppy scenes, each one only serving to lead into the next scene so another ridiculous fight scene can take place. For the first part of the film there was also interesting cinematography choices spliced with dark humour - this all dissipates into action, action and action again.
It seems the director and script editors got together with a checklist of clichéd moments, plot devices and effects and ticked every damn one before high fiving each other and going off to spend three trillion dollars on the SFX bill. Again, I found myself subjected to gratuitous slow down and speed up moments that seemed to be learnt from the 300 school of effects (p.s i like 300).
Oh, and I get it. I know. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SILLY ACTION FILM. ..
Or is it? The first half leads you to believe they are taking themselves very seriously albeit with crazy yet satisfying impossibilities in action scenes which only films like this can be provide. It's a shame Shoot em Up already took this idea and did way better and knew it was silly. Like Smokin' Aces, this film tries to be much slicker than it is and creates scenes which range from impressive to uncomfortable to watch. And yes, I know it originates from a comic thus was expecting ridiculousness, it just got to the point where it wasn't interesting anymore. (The train scene is incredible from a visual standpoint, but it reeked of no-one cares)
I just wish this film could have improved on how it started and made up its mind on what it was going for. It was even more ridiculous than the matrix style plausibility yet that is there for a reason; shoot em up and crank are hilarious through their stupidity because that is what they are trying to be. This seems to find itself tittering between the OTT action film and the engaging thriller sprinkled with the extremely unoriginal 'cool' factor.
I won't go on about the plot in too much detail but really, the final twenty minutes made me want to kill the nearest bystander for its mindbogglingly obvious play out and bland, stereotypical twist
I feel I'm focusing on the negatives here, so here's a couple of positives.
-breathtaking effects -strong lead actor
If you're watching this as a casual action flick then fine, you will probably enjoy yourself is you set your brain to stupid mode, but for me this wasn't a typical lads film as there was a lot going on, and there was a LOT of potential. Disappointing, but not terrible- saved only by its effects and acting (in places)
6/10