American Ultra

Cast: Jessie Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Walter Goggins and Bill Pullman.

Director: Nima Nourizadeh

Release Date: 2015

Genre: Action/Comedy

Running Time: 1hr 36 minutes

Rating: 15

Synopsis:

Mike (Jesse Eisenberg), spends the majority of his time getting high and writing a graphic novel about a superhero monkey. However what Mike doesn't know is that he was trained by the CIA to be a lethal killing machine. What he doesn't know is that his former agents have targeted him for termination, with his new skills he must save him and his girlfriend from getting wasted.

Jesse Eisenberg and Kirsten Stewart are not two people I really enjoy watching in movies let alone in the same movie together! I'm not entirely sure what it is, but I just can't seem to warm to either of them. Kristen Stewart's acting come across as far too wooden and Jesse Eisenberg's characters always seem to be annoying in some way or another. Kristen never seems to show any real characterization in her films, including this one. Jesse Eisenberg is the same, I mean is this Lex Luther or Mike Howell? I honestly can't tell the difference. Nima Nourizadeh is pretty new on the scene when it comes to directing, with this and one other film, the only movies to his name.

The storyline isn't too bad, but the writing is coming across as pretty poor. Nothing is explained about the characters at all. Oh they work for the CIA? Where's the back story on it? One might say that the director doesn't want you to know any of that, but due to the lack of storyline, you find yourself asking far too many questions and finding yourself confused. Kristen Stewarts character doesn't come across as convincing for one minute. The characters and the acting as a whole are pretty poor to be honest. Was Nima high when he directed this? Some characters appear on screen, and absolutely nothing is explained about them. James Bond's worst nightmare? Deepest respects, I understand all directors start somewhere, but this one is quite obvious.

The only good thing about this movie is the cinematography and a really cool room involving where both characters are kept in hiding from the FBI which involves a lot of ultraviolet lights. There aren't really any special effects and I definitely wouldn't really call this an action film, just because there's two explosions. The set design really isn't too bad, as I mentioned before there is a really cool room of ultraviolet lights and well...that's about it. In terms of how this movie is shot, it's really not too bad, there are some awesome moments of photography, it's a shame the acting and directing couldn't really live up to that as well.

In all honesty I think they could of done a really good job with this movie if they had shown some sort of back story to the characters, just to help explain to the characters what is actually going on in this film. It isn't until half way through the film that you potentially understand Kristen Stewart's character, and even then it doesn't make that much sense. This whole time Mike is trying to propose to Phoebe (Stewart) but there's isn't an ounce of chemistry between the two of them. This is far from a romantic comedy involving several CIA agents.

There isn't much of a soundtrack apart from during the end credits where we hear The Chemical Brother's hit song "Snow" from their album further.

I wouldn't really recommend this film to anyone, especially if like me you aren't a fan of Kristen Stewart or Jesse Eisenberg. Slow, hardly an action, bad characterization.

It's a no from me I'm a afraid!

2/5 stars