(From IMDb.com)
At the start of American Ultra, a beat-up and bloody dude by the name of Mike is asked how he got to such a state by an authoritative figure.
Wanting to be supportive, he starts to answer. Instead we get quick panels of flashbacks.
Sitting in a late Friday afternoon showing in the Regal Cinemas theater in Shoppingtown mall surrounded by a small crowd of barely a dozen, I immediately think: Oh, no. Not this back-to- front device used many times before.
But really, that first scene had no bearing on this action-mystery-thriller-comedy written by Max Landis and directed by Nima Nourazadeh.
Quickly we get zipped to zipped to his life in a small West Virginia town, where Mike is a confused stoner living with, as we quickly find out through both his actions and narration, his beautiful and patient girlfriend Phoebe. Mike’s trying to take Phoebe for a vacation to Hawaii, but instead of making the final boarding call as she waits and frets alone, he’s wretching from anxiety in the men’s room. Egads.
Then American Ultra turns into part Chuck, that TV show from NBC where a smart nerd is loaded with super powers by a government agency, part Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the classic 80s movie where stoner Jeff Spicoli smokes his way to astonishing conclusions amid an interesting cast of characters, and part Romeo and Juliet, where you’re left wondering how did these two end up together and will they stay that way?
It’s all a tad unsettling at times, this multiple-personality thing, but American Ultra ultimately goes down well because of the acting.
Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart pair together well as the oil-and-water couple as secrets get revealed in twists and turns, and Connie Britton and Topher Grace hiss and coil in a whole different way as CIA agents hell-bent to make each other miserable to the point of no return, providing the needed hero-and-villain side shows for which to cheer and jeer.
John Leguizamo, too, stands out as Mike’s eccentric dealer who gets caught up in night’s long journey.
Is it great? Nah. The animated ending was as equally empty to me as the finish-at-the-start beginning. But it surely entertained me for 90 of the 94 minutes.
Do you want your action movies to be on the left side of the multiplex and your comedies to be on the right? Do you have a favorite CIA action movie, and if so, why? Do you have a favorite stoner comedy, and if so, why?
Mark Bialczak 
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this movie!
Thanks for the review!
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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You’re welcome, and I hope you enjoy you’re viewing! Thanks for the comment, DIEM3.
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I love movies (and movie reviews)…one of the best movies I saw recently was “What We Do in the Shadows”! It was hilarious and I thought, brilliant! 🙂
HUGS,
Carolyn 🙂 (aka DIEM3 )
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Thanks for the mini-review, Carolyn. You’re always welcome here. Hugs!
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You’re welcome! And thank you! 🙂
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I’ve always been a fan of “Fast Times.” That one is really hard to beat. As for CIA-Action, I love all the Bourne movies. That counts, right? I thought of seeing this one. Perhaps, I’ll wait. At least it’s trying to do something different maybe. How was Kristen Steward in it? Thanks for the review, Mark!
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Bourne counts! Matt Damon is really good in them. I like Kristen a lot in this, Amy. She and Jesse are have a likability factor. Austin says they’re good in ‘Adventureland’ together, too, so I am going to find that, too. And, you’re welcome! 🙂
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I only know one stoner movie….. Fast Times At R.H. And yeah, I loved it. Not in to thrillers any more either…. This one might one day make our FALL AND WINTER FRIDAY NIGHT MAKE CB WATCH MOVIE bonanzas. 😉
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Yes, this one would fall right into that category, I believe, MBC. 🙂
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i really am not into this one, but appreciate your review, as i really couldn’t grasp the story from the trailer. now i’m absolutely sure i’m not going to see it )
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At your service, Beth. 🙂
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Thanks to Austin, above, I remembered the movie where I saw Eisenberg and Stewart before. It was set in Kennywood Amusement Park, near Pittsburgh. ☺ Thanks for the review, Mark, looks like this one can wait until Redbox or Netflix.
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It’s pretty entertaining, Van. I hope you like it when ti gets to your wide screen.
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I really don’t like it when movies degenerate to a point where they are using TV plots. Sounds like it has some redeeming qualities. I think I may consider it as a rental…but of course not if the kids have any say!! Stoner comedies…don’t get me started!! Cheech and Chong have to corner the market.
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Oh, yeah, Cheech and Chong were masters of the genre. “Big Bambu” may have started the 70s chapter.
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Those two were great in Adventureland. Have you ever seen that flick?
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I have not seen Adventureland, Austin. Now I will hunt it down. Thank you!
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Let me know what you think. It’s an indie movie about the staff at an amusement park. I think it’s great. 🙂
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I went to see this movie with my boys. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was entertaining. I really hate when they put the end at the beginning but it was all so obtuse it didn’t really matter. I generally can’t stand Kristin Stewart but she did a super job and did more than stare glumly into the camera for the entire movie. I think my favorite stoner movie is probably “Pineapple Express” – it’s kind of stupid, but pretty funny. Oh, I used to like the Cheech and Chong movies – back in the day.
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I too liked Kristen Stewart in this one, SD. Pineapple Express and Cheech and Chong, there we have it.
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Well, you asked for stoner movies and those were the only ones I could think of!!!!
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Thanks for the review Mark. I’ll wait until this one comes to the small screen some cold winter night when I am bored. 😀
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Yes, you will enjoy it then, Paul.
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