In short:
From Universal Soldier to Captain America: The First Avenger, the US government has a long history of trying to create super soldiers. But what if they tried turning a pot-smoking slacker into a one-man army? Well that's exactly what happens to Jesse Eisenberg in American Ultra. As a hapless loser named Mike Howell, Eisenberg plays an anxiety-prone stoner with no recollection of his time spent in the top-secret Ultra program. But when he finds himself the target of a CIA death squad, he must rely on his elite training to defend both himself and his girlfriend, Phoebe (Kristen Stewart). Naturally, bloodshed and mayhem ensues, but what's surprising is how much screen time this genre-warping film devotes to fleshing out Mike and Phoebe's relationship. Even with the rest of the supporting cast mostly chewing the scenery, there's a genuine weight to Eisenberg and Stewart's performances. And that makes American Ultra more than just your run-of-the-mill stoner action-comedy. As a matter of fact, you don't even have to be baked to enjoy it.
Click here to read my full review.
Film rating: 4 out of 5
From Universal Soldier to Captain America: The First Avenger, the US government has a long history of trying to create super soldiers. But what if they tried turning a pot-smoking slacker into a one-man army? Well that's exactly what happens to Jesse Eisenberg in American Ultra. As a hapless loser named Mike Howell, Eisenberg plays an anxiety-prone stoner with no recollection of his time spent in the top-secret Ultra program. But when he finds himself the target of a CIA death squad, he must rely on his elite training to defend both himself and his girlfriend, Phoebe (Kristen Stewart). Naturally, bloodshed and mayhem ensues, but what's surprising is how much screen time this genre-warping film devotes to fleshing out Mike and Phoebe's relationship. Even with the rest of the supporting cast mostly chewing the scenery, there's a genuine weight to Eisenberg and Stewart's performances. And that makes American Ultra more than just your run-of-the-mill stoner action-comedy. As a matter of fact, you don't even have to be baked to enjoy it.
Click here to read my full review.
Film rating: 4 out of 5
