Wild Target. Rated M (Violence and infrequent coarse language). 98 minutes. Directed by Jonathan Lynn. Screenplay by Lucinda Coxon. Based on the French film Cible émouvante (1993), written and directed by Pierre Salvadori.
As quirky, British comedies go, Wild Target is a diverting little gem – thanks mostly to the charming performances of its leads Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt and Rupert Grint who, both individually and together, light up the screen with truck-loads of charisma.
Victor Maynard (Mr Nighy) is a professional hitman who finds himself increasingly captivated by his latest target – con-woman Rose (Ms Blunt). When it becomes obvious that Victor has no intention of carrying out the ‘hit’, another hitman, Hector Dixon (Martin Freeman), is sent to do the job instead. With young stoner Tony (Mr Grint) along for the ride, Victor and Rose escape to Victor’s country estate to hide and work out how they can resolve their major life-and-death problem.
Jonathan Lynn (perhaps better known as the writer and creator of the acclaimed British television series Yes, Minister, and Yes, Prime Minister), has the good sense to leave his actors alone and they never let him down. While it occasionally feels a little too conveniently contrived, Ms Coxon’s English-language version of the French original is pretty much a case of more hits than misses, and Nighy’s perfect comedic timing is absolutely delightful to behold.
Ms Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, the unfortunate The Wolfman, the soon-to-be-released Gulliver's Travels) is fabulous as the feisty ‘wild’ target, while Mr Grint (currently also onscreen in his continuing role as Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) is totally endearing as the orphaned young apprentice who Victor takes under his wing (to tutor, yet again) in the hope that he might one day take his place in the ‘family business’. Dame Eileen Atkins absolutely revels in her wonderfully offbeat cameo as Victor’s not-to-be-trifled-with mother, Louisa.
While Wild Target occasionally drags its heels as far as pace and action is concerned, it is a perfectly entertaining distraction from the mayhem that signifies this time of year.
This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.
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