Title: Wanted
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Writers: Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Chris Morgan
Starring: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman
Rating: R

The best way to describe "Wanted" may be this: a hybrid between the action of "The Matrix" and the comedy of "Office Space." While "Wanted" is not nearly as funny as the latter (at least the first half of "Office Space," anyway) and doesn't have the groundbreaking style of the former, the film emerged as one of the better action films in recent years. In fact, it's one of the more entertaining rides I've experienced in some time.

How improbable. For me, there was nothing particularly alluring about "Wanted" prior to its release. I didn't know much about the lead actor James McAvoy, and quite frankly, neither Morgan Freeman nor Angelina Jolie were much of a draw for me. Despite being an avid comic book fan, I had never read the "Wanted" series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones and knew very little about it (which turned out to be a good thing since the film deviates wildly from the comic book's plot). The setup of the movie seemed all too familiar.

And then there's the action. From the looks of the trailer and early footage, with slow-motion bullet time effects and wild, over-the-top action, "Wanted" resembled a "Matrix" rip off. And you know what? It sort of is. The movie begins with a rip-roaring action sequence that involves people floating through the air and stopping time, while performing actions that by all accounts are beyond human capacity. Later in the film, the film's hero Wesley Gibson (McAvoy) is saved from a tedious life as an office drone by a mysterious woman named Fox (Jolie) who tells him that another world exists beyond what he knows and that he is the chosen one and must fulfill his destiny. Sound familiar?

James McAvoy steals the show as Wesley Gibson, a timid accountant who becomes a lethal assassin in "Wanted."

Yes, it's a "Matrix" rip-off. And that's okay, because rarely have I seen imitation done this well. The film is directed by Timur Bekmambetov, who is best known for the highly successful Russian film "Nightwatch." I didn't care much for that film, though Bekmambetov did display some compelling techniques with the camera. With "Wanted," he makes good on that potential and crafts some of the more amazing action sequences brought to the big screen lately. They are surely improbable, but Bekmambetov somehow times everything right and makes it look so good that you really don't have time to question what you're seeing and have no choice but to sit back and grip the arm rests.

But the action is only half of the equation, of course. The other half of "Wanted" resembles "Office Space" and boasts the kind of wit and crowd-pleasing humor that is all too scarce in action films. Rather than regurgitating bland one-liners and catch-phrases, "Wanted" instead chooses to get its laughs through carefully constructed scenarios, sly acting, and some excellent physical comedy. Even some of the movie's cheap running gags are done so well that I didn't mind them. "Wanted" had me under its spell.

After the obligatory opening action scene, the film turns to its heart and soul: Wesley. He's a neurotic accountant trapped in a cubicle, completely devoid of self-respect and subjected to massive amounts of crap from his girlfriend, so-called best friend (who's sleeping with his adulterous girlfriend), his boss and co-workers, and basically everybody in the world. He is frail and suffers from paralyzing anxiety attacks. He knows he is a loser, but doesn't seem willing to do anything about it.

Once he meets Fox, Wesley is slowly pulled out of his dreary life and shown a new reality; his recently deceased father was actually a superhuman assassin and a member of a secret society known as "the Fraternity." Wesley also has some of the same gifts as his late father; it turns out the symptoms of his panic attacks are actually an indicator of his powerful abilities. He's encouraged by Fox and the Fraternity's leader Sloan (Freeman) to join the group and help them hunt down the man who killed Wesley's father. The Fraternity explains its purpose and methods (which are entirely silly, but okay - I'll bite) and soon it begins to train Wesley and submit him to abuse that's so brutal it's comical. But hey, they do teach him the art of shooting around corners, curving bullets, and slowing down time.

Angelina Jolie stars as Fox, Wesley's sexy and dangerous mentor.

Again, think "The Matrix" but instead of a wooden Keanu Reeves you have Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) from "Office Space," only much more pathetic. And yes, "Wanted" also recycles some elements from that film as well. But the movie is able to combine its action and humor in a way that it's able to establish its own identity. And the majority of the credit for this feat goes to McAvoy, a young Scottish actor who absolutely carries this film from start to finish. McAvoy received attention in films like "Atonement" and "The Last King of Scotland," but "Wanted" should make him a star. An atypical action star, McAvoy is always intense as both a repressed geek and a daring assassin. Even when he's in pre-killer mode, you get the feeling that something is simmering under Wesley's surface.

Then there's Jolie as Wesley's mentor/partner. She's not the star of the movie, obviously but she's the movie's draw, full of sex appeal and action. This may be the perfect role for Jolie, since it's entirely built on her presence. She oozes sexiness, ferocity and intensity without speaking very many lines or, quite frankly, doing much acting. And the performance works just fine; Fox is meant to be intimidating but you never feel like Jolie is eclipsing McAvoy. In fact, the opposite it true. The two actors work well together, but it's McAvoy who truly shines. When Wesley finally stands up for himself and turns himself into a lethal killing machine, you can't help but cheer.

As the movie progresses, the script delivers a few interesting twists and turns. The details of the story as pretty absurd - I won't even mention how the Fraternity gets its directives and decides who lives or dies - but then again, aren't most action movies? The trick with "Wanted" is that the film acknowledges its outrageous nature with a wink and nod, but never apologizes for it. You don't have to invest anything in the plot - just the main character and his transformation.

"Wanted" sprung on me like one of the Fraternity's deadly assassins, taking me completely by surprise. I walked into the theater with little hope or expectations that "Wanted" was going to be anything beyond a standard action movie by today's standards - and those standards are weak. Too much special effects and CGI. Not enough stylish, methodical camera work. Lots of blurry action scenes filled with frantic jump cuts that leave you nauseated. Bad acting and horrendous one-liners. A complete lack of self-awareness, and a tragic need to take itself far too seriously.

"Wanted," thankfully, suffers from none of these symptoms. What it lacks in originality, it compensates for with its finely distributed mixture of exhilarating action and sly humor. "Wanted" is a thrill ride that takes off at a breakneck pace from the first minute and never stops. What more can you ask of a big budget action movie?

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