Based on the popular comic book series by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones, Wanted is an entertaining live-action thriller that derives much of its energies from two 1999 cult films; narratively its punch comes from Fight Club and its hyper-stylized violent gun play from The Matrix. Russian director Timur Bekmambetov, noted for his series of cult vampire films, has a compelling visual style and makes great use of Chicago vistas. He tells the story of a group of assassins, called the Fraternity, who seek out a mild mannered Chicago accountant, Wesley Gibson, (James McAvoy) who lives a boring, but stressful life, working for an oppressive boss and whose best friend and co-worker is screwing his live-in girlfriend. Things need to change in his life—pronto!

Angelina Jolie plays Fox, a sexy, tattooed assassin who saves Wesley’s life one evening before revealing that his long estranged father was the recent target of a renegade hit man who once belonged to their group. Soon she introduces him to Sloan (Morgan Freeman) who heads up the Fraternity and they convince Wesley they will train and empower him to become an assertive, powerful killer, like his late father. Situated in an off-Loop fabric mill and factory, the Fraternity’s lessons teach Wesley the combat skills, arms training and ability to jump onto moving El trains in order to achieve his missions.

McAvoy, whose recent films roles were the romantic leads in Atonement and Becoming Jane, seeems like an obvious miscast for this action film, but he’s surprisingly effective. The shapely and toned Jolie is all standard action hero. But Freeman and others, like rap star Common, are blandly underwritten and one dimensional. Some fun, action packed car chases, especially on Chicago’s Lower Wacker Dr, and wild shootouts keep Wanted’s comic book tone mostly satisfying.