'Wild Target' hits quirky bull's-eyeA film in the same vein as “Grosse Point Blank,” “Wild Target” tells the story of an assassin who falls in love.
Bill Nighy plays the assassin Victor Maynard who is like a more competent version of Peter Sellers’ Chief Inspector Clouseau. He is the best assassin in the business killing with precision and extreme seriousness, but the situations he finds himself in are a bit on the absurd side. One victim’s parrot learns his name and says “I love you” – hilarity ensues. Emily Blunt plays the kleptomaniac target that turns Maynard’s heart. She glides through the outdoor marketplace stealing items with abandon and avoiding Maynard though I’m not convinced that she knew he was there, which lent a whole Pink Panther the movie feel to the sequence. Rupert Grint’s Tony gets swept up in the action. Maynard sees promise in Tony and decides to take him on as an apprentice. Grint does a great job – it was good to see him in something other |
than a Harry Potter film.
The chemistry between the three is just confusing enough to make the whole thing interesting. As their relationships grow, so do the complications. “Wild Target” is the right mix of quirky, murderous fun. The supporting cast provides a good number of laughs as does Grint. This film is definitely worth checking out if you can appreciate dark humor. |
|