Directed by : Nima Nourizadeh
Written by : Max Landis
Starring : Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Walton Goggins
Release Date : August 19, 2015
Tell me if you've heard of this plot before, about a seemingly normal guy who finds out that he is a highly trained killing machine secret agent, but doesn't remember it. No, this is not the "Bourne Identity," because what we get with "American Ultra" is what is essentially a less-serious slacker friendly version of that. It also seems a little designed to capture a niche and cult audience with it's straight-to-video sensibilities.
Although the story starts out very simple with some nice character building moments for who Mike Howell and Phoebe Larson are; Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart respectively, the movie starts demanding a huge amount of suspension of disbelief once the main premise kicks in. Even so, I thought it was entertaining seeing the action sequences play out, and I enjoyed the whole gimmick of seeing a stoner fight back with some amazing skills.
The ridiculous premise aside, there are two things that really worked for me. The relationship between Mike and Phoebe actually felt like the solid heart of the movie that I was completely rooting for. The other is the emphasis on using every day items you can find at a super market as weapons of death; which reminds me a bit of Jackie Chan's philosophy of using whatever weapon you can find.
"American Ultra" can feel like a throwaway movie that isn't essential viewing, but I did have a lot of fun with it. It has a nice mix of self awareness and over the top moments, mixed in with some sentimentality and imagination.
lovedit ENJOYED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible
