A very British remake of a French black comedy, this hitman farce squanders its bullseye cast on patchy material. Up for the perennial one-last-job, hitman Victor (Bill Nighy) is sent out to knock off Emily Blunt’s art thief when a blunder sees him protecting his own target, then a tagalong apprentice (Rupert Grint). Sent into hiding, the three form a dysfunctional bond, but the jaunty montages screech to a halt when Martin Freeman’s harsh rival hitman pitches up. Lumbered with tame action and carbon-dated gags (honestly, have dead parrots been funny since Monty Python?), the cast just about charm their way out of it. Nighy’s value, but it’s a bit like watching an ITV sitcom spin-off of A Fish Called Wanda .
Wild Target Review
Solitary hitman Victor (Nighy) lives at home with curmudgeonly mum and carries out his briefs with lethal efficiency. Until, that is, he finds himself drawn to an intended victim (Blunt) and inherits an apprentice (Grint).
Release Date:
18 Jun 2010
Running Time:
97 minutes
Certificate:
12A
Original Title:
Wild Target
A talented cast keep some low-key action and tired gags from derailing this disappointing farce.
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