Wild Target

Buy this DVD at Amazon.com

Rating: PG-13

Starring:
Bill Nighy as Victor Maynard
Emily Blunt as Rose
Rupert Grint as Tony
Rupert Everett as Ferguson
Eileen Atkins as Louisa Maynard
Martin Freeman as Hector Dixon
Gregor Fisher as Mike

Directed by Jonathan Lynn

Special Features:
On Target with Emily Blunt

Other Info:
Widescreen (2.35:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Spanish Subtitles
Running Time: 98 Minutes

The Details:
The following is the official description of the film:

“Take dead aim at action-packed laughs with this killer comedy featuring an all-star cast. Emily Blunt steals the show as Rose, a free-spirited thief who finds herself in the crosshairs of a world-class assassin named Victor (Bill Nighy). But when Victor spares Rose’s life, the lonely-hearted hitman sets off an outrageous chain of events that turn both their worlds upside down. Joined by a gun-toting apprentice (Rupert Grint), the unlikely trio teams up to thwart the murderous intentions of Victor’s unhappy client.”

“Wild Target” is rated PG-13 for violence, some sexual content and brief strong language.

Mini-Review:
“Wild Target” is a fun little British comedy based on the 1993 French film “Cible Emouvante.” Bill Nighy plays the stuffy Victor. He’s quiet, a loner, and devoted to his elderly mother. He also happens to be the world’s best assassin. So when he’s hired to kill a thief by the name of Rose, he’s immediately flummoxed by her. She’s a hopeless kleptomaniac, her actions are completely random, and she seems to simply follow whatever whim strikes her. Victor quickly loses his cool as he repeatedly fails to kill her, then he actually finds himself growing fond of her. This ended up being one of my favorite Nighly roles. It’s so funny to see such a professional, emotionless character so utterly perplexed by his target. Nighy plays the role pitch perfect with the right mixture of calm and exasperation.

This is also a great role for Emily Blunt as Rose. I knew she could do comedy, but this allows her to display her comedic talents beyond anything I’ve seen her do before. She’s random, spirited, and mischievous. It’s no wonder Victor falls for her character. Blunt has great chemistry with both Nighy and Rupert Grint as Tony. This is the first time I’ve seen Grint in a role outside of the “Harry Potter” movies, but he did a great job. He plays a lovable idiot who gets pulled into Victor and Rose’s world of crime. His cluelessness steals more than one scene. The role isn’t all that different from Ron in “Harry Potter” and Grint might be risking getting typecast, but he was quite funny in “Wild Target.” They’re supported by Rupert Everett as the crime lord Ferguson, Eileen Atkins as Victor’s psychotic mother Louisa Maynard, and Martin (Bilbo Baggins) Freeman as Hector Dixon.

The only time “Wild Target” really misfired in my opinion was with the romance between Victor and Rose. For much of the movie it feels like they have a father / daughter relationship, so when it turns more romantic later in the film, it’s a little hard to buy. The age difference has a lot to do with that. After all, there aren’t all that many 28-year-old women who would fall for 62-year-old men….unless they’re rich. And they bicker so much up until the end of the film that it’s a little hard to believe Rose would fall for him, too.

If you’re looking for a fun, wacky crime caper, then you’ll want to check out “Wild Target.” On more than one occasion while watching it I thought it felt a lot like “A Fish Called Wanda.” And if you’re a fan of Blunt, Nighy, or Grint you’ll get a kick out of this as well.

The DVD only has one bonus feature, and it’s simply a brief interview with Emily Blunt about the making of the film. If you want more, you’re out of luck.