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Emily Blunt, Bill Nighy, Rupert Grint, Rupert Everett, Martin Freeman ... see more see more... , Eileen Atkins , Gregor Fisher , Geoff Bell , Rory Kinnear , Duncan Duff , Graham Seed , James O'Dee , George Rainsford , Alexis Rodney , Sia Berkeley , Jenny Crosdale , Philip Battley , Neil D'Souza , Adrian Schiller , Jonathan Lynn

A gorgeous con artist sells a fake painting to a powerful gangster and discovers that crime doesn't pay when her unsatisfied customer hires Europe's top assassin to take her out. But the moment Victor... read more read more... (Bill Nighy) gets Rose (Emily Blunt) in his crosshairs, he hesitates. The situation grows tense when Victor vows to protect the sprightly scammer rather than rubbing her out, and finds himself the unwitting mentor to a young protégée. Before long, all three are on the run from Europe's second-best assassin. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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56% liked it

25,606 ratings

Critics

32% liked it

53 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Lynn

Release Date: October 29, 2010

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DVD Release Date: February 8, 2011

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Stats: 1,233 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,233)

  • phubbs1
    May 14, 2012
    phubbs1
    Think 'A Fish Called Wanda' and 'Clockwise' and you have an idea of how this quirky little British film plays out. Bill Nighy is against cast as a ageing hitman who looks after his also ageing mother whilst doing his daily job of taking people out.

    It sounds hilarious on paper a... read morend is a fun film, its just not quite as sharp as you might hope for. Nighy of course is the best thing in the film as the stiff upper lipped, tight assed gentleman hitman, a kind of 'Basil Fawlty' hitman who frowns upon anything modern or unusual in his world.

    The rest of the cast are a jumbled mix of British character actors who add spice to the plot but not quite as much as Nighy. Freeman as the other hired assassin on the job is surprisingly eerie with his bleached teeth and slick hair, his partner in crime is Geoff Bell who always plays the scary hardman but parodies this beautifully here. Both are a great team up for this film and compliment Nighy so well, the other cast members do the job but nothing to rave about, Everett doesn't quite fit his role as head gangster if you ask me whilst Grint can't shake his 'Potter' background I'm afraid.

    There isn't anything particularly original here, the hitman thing has been done to death but mixing it with an anal stuffy ageing British aristocratic business man type is a neat little idea. There isn't a great deal more on offer other than that small concept, the rest of the humour is average and the film does lull towards the end, the final idea of the two leads getting married and having a kid is rather icky frankly haha age gap much?

    A nice entertaining black comedy which would have been perfect for John Cleese many years ago but Nighy is still good fare and still flies the flag for Britain just fine.
  • deano
    November 24, 2011
    deano
    Awesome comedy of the hired assassins as American and English producers are seemingly out of ideas, or convinced no-one watches films made off their shores. French archives are a regular source of US/UK rip-offs - sorry, homages - with this light British hitman caper based upon a... read more 1993 Jean Rochefort farce.
    Bubbly Emily Blunt stretches to make us believe the crap con-job she does on Rupert Everett's underused baddie, while Bill Nighy is custom-built for a lonely, proper killer suddenly losing control. But Harry Potter tag-along Rupert Grint, as homeless dude Tony, doesn't just get involved with Victor (Nighy) and Rose (Blunt) in a paltry way. His continued presence is the stuff of slim pickings greatly assisting with how the black-comedy screwballing of the first act segues into standard drama which loosens the grip on your laughing gear.
    Aside from the Grint factor, Wild Target also gets wonky when young Rose begins to fall for creaky Victor. Nighy and Blunt can sell it, but you won't be buying.
  • blkbomb
    August 19, 2011
    blkbomb
    Tony: You know I'm a terrible shot. I could easily aim at your head and blow your balls off. 

    "They said 'take her out'. He got the wrong idea."

    I'm slightly disappointed with Wild Target, but I still did find it pleasant and every once in awhile really funny; just not often en... read moreough. Before going in I knew what the best part of this movie was going to be; Emily Blunt. She didn't disappoint either. Bill Nighy is pretty good too. Rupert Grint is okay and it is nice to see him in something other then Harry Potter. As for the movie itself it does go through stretches where it's just not funny. It's easy to tell it's trying to be funny, but it's just not. 

    The film does enough charm to get by though; mostly due to Emily Blunt. The movie follows an older hit man. He's supposed to kill a woman who ripped off a gangster and got away with a lot of money. Instead he begins to protect her. The story has a lot of potential in it and that is why the movie is a little disappointing. It could of been great. Instead, it's just decent. 

    If your a fan of Bill Nighy or Emily Blunt; give it a watch. They are both good in it, even if the movie doesn't come together perfectly. It's entertaining enough to hold your attention for the entire film; just don't expect too much more then that.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    July 15, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    They said 'Take her out'. He got the wrong idea.

    Very good English funny film. The story was quite interesting and the funny moments were epic. Emily Blunt is very talented beautiful actress which we will see in movies to come for a few years and Bill Nighy was born for comedy. ... read moreIt was nice to see Rupert Grint get out of the ginger role of Harry Potter films and do something else. Very recommended to all.

    Victor Maynard is a middle-aged, solitary assassin, who lives to please his formidable mother, despite his own peerless reputation for lethal efficiency. His professional routine is interrupted when he finds himself drawn to one of his intended victims, Rose. He spares her life, unexpectedly acquiring in the process a young apprentice, Tony. Believing Victor to be a private detective, his two new companions tag along, while he attempts to thwart the murderous attentions of his unhappy client.
  • Deano78
    June 28, 2011
    Deano78
    A decent little English comedy about an aging hitman who lives his life by strict rules and discipline. This all goes out the window when he can't kill his latest target a young con-artist and is aided by a young runaway in trying to protect her. It has quite a few funny moments ... read moreand some very British humour in this black comedy. A great cast raise the standard and it has a certain charm about it.
  • allan913
    April 30, 2011
    allan913
    It's a wild and thoroughly enjoyable comedy. A hilarious, surprisingly heartfelt and wonderful good time loaded with wit, romance and great chemistry from it's tremendous cast. Bill Nighy is wonderfully good. Emily Blunt is just a gem. Rupert Grint is terrific. These three are a ... read morefantastic and outrageous combination. A great film that's just a cool and lovable thrill to watch. A full-clip of fun and heart.
  • bbcfloridabound
    April 19, 2011
    bbcfloridabound
    A very funny film about an ageing Hit Man and his target whom he falls in love with. After being hire to kill her he follows her and kills the man about ready to kill her, while trying to make there escape in a cooper they come across another killer in the backseat who the atten... read moreded shoots and becomes involved. Also the hitman's Mom gets involve overall an enjoyable funny film. Worth 5 Stars
  • lewiskendell
    February 16, 2011
    lewiskendell
    "Tony, come and see what happens when you don't clean your gun."

    What could have been an excellent action-comedy with a great cast, ends up being an okay action-comedy with a great cast.

    Bill Nighy is a professional assassin who turns bodyguard when he feels compelled to prote... read morect a thieving young woman (Emily Blunt) that he's been hired to kill. The two go on the run from other assassins (including Martin Freeman), accompanied by a young man (Rupert Grint) who just so happens to get caught up in their misadventures.

    It's fun to see Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt (mercy, what a beautiful woman) running around maniacally, and arguing with one another, but Wild Target isn't quite as funny as it had the potential to be. Rupert Grint's character just seems extraneous, and adds little humor or anything else, to the proceedings.

    I think that Wild Target is worth a rental or watching on TV if you're a fan of the cast, but I'd think twice before buying it sight unseen.
  • smith44
    December 12, 2010
    smith44
    Thoroughly enjoyable British comedy. Billy Nighy is transfixing.
  • moonrivers
    November 20, 2010
    moonrivers
    the premise is hard to overcome: middle-aged man sparking w/a younger woman - blech! ... who wants to watch that? - but charming stars make you embarrassed you had the trepidation to begin with (as cary grant and audrey hepburn proved in "charade"). similarly here bill nighy and... read more emily blunt ooze charm like ihop has hot butter on sundays. this is beyond a doubt the best nighy's done in awhile and certainly the least cartoonish, turning an unlikeable character into a gent. and blunt is the center of every scene she's in, sexy yet innocent at the same time, i don't know how she does it. and here's a film with, count 'em, two ruperts in it. how often does that happen??? grint is the surprise, capably holding his own in deeper waters than i've ever seen him in. don't let this brit charmer get by you.

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Critic Reviews

Steven Rea
November 18, 2010
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

The film has to fly by its wits -- and its witty lines -- and by the charm of its stars. This it does, just barely. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
November 12, 2010
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

It's never a good idea to cast Bill Nighy as a buttoned-down hit man. Full Review

Peter Rainer
November 1, 2010
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Practically a text book in how ugly things can get when you don't have the right, light touch for this sort of thing. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
October 29, 2010
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

There have been a lot of black comedies about assassins lately -- there have been a few just this year -- but Wild Target may be the first one to contain genuine laughs. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
October 29, 2010
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

An eccentric little comic thriller filled with enough laughs that I was mostly willing to overlook the fact that it makes virtually no sense as a thriller. Full Review

A.O. Scott
October 29, 2010
A.O. Scott, New York Times

All of this busyness drains away the film's charm, turning what might have been a naughty and whimsical frolic into something glib, hectic and sour. Full Review

Betsy Sharkey
October 28, 2010
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

Since irony is so often director Jonathan Lynn's weapon of choice, Wild Target should have been a good fit. It's not quite. Full Review

Christy Lemire
October 28, 2010
Christy Lemire, Associated Press

Wild Target takes aim at various styles and genres and misses the mark every time. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
October 27, 2010
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

A very French 1993 farce gets a less comfortable British redo in Wild Target, a hectic, charm-challenged comedy about a fussy bachelor hitman who can't bring himself to off a winsome thief. Full Review

Rex Reed
October 27, 2010
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Nothing works. Full Review

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    • Tony: Has anyone seen the cat?
    • Victor Maynard: That was unbelievably irresponsible! Staggeringly immature!
    • Tony: Staggeringly... staggering!
    • Victor Maynard: My name is Victor Maynard, and i am 54 years old and I work as a professional killer.
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