American Ultra
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart
Directed by Nima Nourizadeh
After sharing romantic screen time in 2009’s Adventureland, Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart reunite for the spy comedy American Ultra. The niche genre the film occupies generally mixes snappy writing with over-the-top violence and Ultra hits the mark, often with stylish precision.
Eisenberg plays Mike Howell, a small-town stoner who spends his days hanging with girlfriend Phoebe (Stewart) and enduring his humdrum job at the local convenience store. Life suddenly changes for Mike when a mysterious woman (Connie Britton) arrives at the store and begins reciting cryptic messages to him. Following the bizarre encounter, Mike confronts a couple thugs ‘doing shit’ to his car and incredulously quickly dispatches the men in true Jason Bourne fashion. It turns out our hapless hero is actually a sleeper agent for a shadowy defunct CIA program who has just been activated. American Ultra’s simplistic plot is derivative but director Nima Nourizadeh brings a keen eye to the movie’s crisp, tight shot compositions and some brisk editing make the film ultimately watchable, albeit familiar.
Eisenberg and Stewart are perfectly cast in their respective roles with the former handling fight scene duties convincingly. A strong cast, with decent scenery-chewing from the central villain played by Topher Grace, a madcap assassin courtesy of Walton Goggins, and a buffed up John Leguizamo, keep things entertaining until the finale. A kinetic soundtrack and generally well-staged action ensure the film never has time to drag. It’s not quite a meal but American Ultra provides a tasty summer snack.
