MIFF Monday August 2nd

Wild Target
2010
Dir: Jonathan Lynn


"That's Ron Weasley, and the other guy was from The Office..." - that was the first thing I heard trying to escape from the Forum as soon as the film finished playing. The second was an older woman trying to explain the MIFF voting process to her friend, "You have to tear the piece of paper where you want to vote, I gave it 5 stars." I think I almost choked hearing that, but then again that's what MIFF is all about. I love this film, you hate that film, we all hate Greater Union - it's what makes the world turn really.

Having not seen the original film Cible émouvante I went blind into the remake Wild Target, I didn't even watch the trailer. I love Bill "feel it in my fingers" Nighy, don't mind a bit of Emily Blunt, and love Martin "the other guy is from The Office" Freeman. I've only ever seen the first Harry Potter movie so my feelings towards Ron Weasley... ah Rupert Grint, are nonexistent. Based on his performance here, my feelings remain.

Victor Maynard (Bill Nighy) is the top assassin in London. Raised in the family business he's been taught to kill from a young age. When he takes a job to kill young beauty Rose (Emily Blunt) after she scams Ferguson (Rupert Everett) out of £900,000 with a fake Rembrandt painting Maynard doesn't expect that he'll end up changing sides and protecting Rose, taking Tony (Rupert Grint) along for the ride as his apprentice.

This is essentially one of those bumbling crime comedy capers where the "bad guys" are stupid and ultimately don't win. The "good guys" are always one step ahead or if they're not they have the screenwriter's perfect timing on their side to avoid any nasty endings for them. This is a neat little film and one that is painfully aware of its "funny" lines. I say "funny" because the audience loved it, although I remember thinking more about what I was going to have for dinner than actually laughing. I get that there were some genuinely funny moments, but when the film is throwing something in your face going see what we did/said there? That's funny - ok laugh I have a reluctance to actually laugh.

The performances are all great, Bill Nighy in particular is worth watching this film for alone. He is hilarious - plain and simple. The French style soundtrack alludes to the original and something tells me a lot of the jokes would have worked better in that version. I for one will definitely be seeking the original out. I think most people will enjoy this film, it's very mainstream with guaranteed laughs and high speed chases, it's a good popcorn flick.