Netflix adds ‘extremely underrated’ movie that spawned iconic meme you'll know in a heartbeat
Netflix has added a movie with a star-studded cast, some of whom appeared in the film well before they went on to become Hollywood A-List names.
The movie may not be one that you immediately recognise, but it does contain an iconic meme you would know in a heartbeat.
If you’ve ever developed a work enemy of any kind, the gif of a young James McAvoy walking up and hitting his coworker across the face with his keyboard will surely have been used at some point.
Many however will not realise that the irritating coworker he whacks across the face is a pre-Marvel Chris Pratt, and that the pair are joined in the movie by Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.
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Called Wanted, the film was added to Netflix today in the UK without much fanfare.
What is Wanted about and how was it received?
The movie stars McAvoy as a young, frustrated office worker, Wesley, who discovers a massive secret.
Not only was his father a professional hitman, but he inherited his supernatural killing powers from him.
As well as Pratt, Jolie, and Freeman, the cast is filled out by Common, Terence Stamp, Marc Warren, and Kristen Hager, an outrageously stacked cast list.
Based on a comic book, the film was given mostly positive reviews upon release, along with two Oscar nominations to boot.
Sitting at 71 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, Bill Goodykoontz summed up the overwhelming response well in his review for the Arizona Republic.
He described the film as 'a genuine thrill ride that has the added bonus of being an action movie you don't have to turn your brain off to enjoy'.
The iconic meme spawned from Wanted
The meme comes from a scene where McAvoy’s Wesley, starring in the film three years prior to his star-making role in X-Men First Class, whacks his coworker in the face with a keyboard, dislodging his teeth.
In the process he also dislodges a few choice keys on the keyboard, spelling out the words ‘f*ck you’.
Whilst not especially subtle, the moment has stuck in the minds of many, with many not realising that the coworker Barry on the receiving end is played by a pre-fame Chris Pratt.
One comment on a viral video of the clip, which has become a meme arguably far more watched than Wanted, said: “As my friend put it: ‘Remember when Charles Xavier smashed Star Lord's face in with a keyboard’.”
Another said: “It's funny when you go back and see actors when they were minor in roles lol I had no idea this was Pratt.”
Wanted is available to watch on Netflix.
Topics: Chris Pratt, Film, Netflix, TV and Film
Michael Slavin