American Ultra

 AMERICAN ULTRA

Director : Nima Nourizadeh
Year : 2015
Genre : Action/Comedy
Rating : **1/2

As has become typical of most Summer movie advertising these days, 'American Ultra' is yet another comedy where all the best gags are shown in the trailer. Therefore, if you have seen the trailer, then you have indeed seen the film. A curious hybrid of 'A History Of Violence' and 'Pineapple Express', 'American Ultra' tells the story of Mike - a permanently stoned convenience store clerk (played by a very twitchy Jesse Eisenberg) who, after dispatching two would-be car-thieves in a particularly gruesome manner one night, comes to realise that he is/was in fact a lethal super spy. With the help of his loyal girlfriend Phoebe (played by Eisenberg's 'Adventureland' co-star Kristen Stewart), Mike must do everything he can to evade the wrath of an extremely disgruntled CIA agent (Topher Grace) who sees the now-alert killing machine as a very real threat to the peace of the country.

At it's best, 'American Ultra' is (as the trailer promised) a full-blooded action thriller, with all the gore and pulpy set pieces typical of the genre. The many deaths throughout are all pretty cringeworthy and it's very apparent that director Nima Nourizadeh, whose fluid camera work manages to capture every single moment of impalement, gouging and bludgeoning with an almost forensic eye, is having a hell of a good time behind the camera. However, 'American Ultra' has also been advertised as a comedy and despite the best efforts of the cast and indeed screenwriter Max Landis (son of 'An American Werewolf In London' director John), the film never manages to generate anything more than a slight chuckle. There are moments when the film begins to pick up a comedic speed but immediately becomes too distracted and enamoured by the bloody carnage that has spontaneously erupted before it's eyes. And that's the problem - 'American Ultra' is clearly more in love with it's body count and explode-y set pieces than it's characters and comedic possibilities. Even with a relatively short running time and a pretty solid cast, 'American Ultra' fails to live up it's obvious cult potential. Yes, the profanity is upped and the blood content is certainly higher than that of most of the other comedies released this year but that's not enough to recommend the film because honestly, there are many other movies that have done this scenario so much better in the past.