Despite an attempt at interesting cinematography, Wanted fails to be anything more than a solid, generic action film.

Ordinary, anxiety-ridden cubicle worker Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) has his life transformed when sexy assassin Fox (Angelina Jolie) rescues him from his humdrum routine and introduces him to a secret guild of assassins, The Fraternity. Suddenly in possession of millions of dollars, super-human fighting skills and a gang of killer friends, Gibson leaves behind his pathetic former life to avenge his father’s death.

Following the formula of films such as The Matrix and Fight Club — i.e., ordinary man discovers a new world outside his cubicle and becomes a badass — Wanted tries to join the ranks of the cult classic. However, lacking both plot consistency and depth, the film fails to be memorable.

Nonetheless, the plot is interesting, and the film bursts with intense action scenes — from gunfights in grocery stores to gunfights in trains to gunfights on top of trains, Wanted is full of non-stop action and great special effects.

While a solid action film, Wanted has unbelievably cheesy plot points. Throughout the film, members of The Fraternity — the meanest, most talented and brutal assassins in the world — take their orders from the careful interpretation of cloth made from a “loom of fate.” The loose threads indicate either a one or a zero that, when put in a random order, spells the name of the next target. In a film full of explosions, fighting and death, the loom seems like a ridiculous boss for such hardcore assassins.

Wanted also employs an unnecessary and inconsistent voice-over by its main character, Gibson. Heavy at the beginning and frankly insulting at the end, the voice-over imparts nothing important and fails to be witty or insightful. A bad copy of Fight Club’s essential voice-over, Wanted seems to be grasping at inventiveness.

The unorthodox cinematography also attempts to make Wanted more than just the typical action film. When Gibson smashes his keyboard against the face of an annoying friend, the keys rip from their places to spell “f-u-c-k-y-o-u” on the screen. Bullets also fly in slow motion reminiscent of The Matrix, and Gibson’s panic attacks are likewise shown in exaggerated slow motion.

The beginning and end of the film are full of these effects, while the middle seems inconsistently devoid of anything but the constant slow-motion scenes. Like the voice-over, these effects attempt to elevate the film above the ordinary, but they instead seem calculated and incompatible with the rest of the film.

While a thoroughly enjoyable action film, Wanted fails to be groundbreaking.