Finally we have an original superhero in Jesse Eisenberg who plays a killer nerd. Nobody is gonna mess with Jesse after seeing him in American Ultra, a refreshing comic book film never before seen or heard of and because of this, you will be on the edge of your seat wondering why. We do not have a remake of a familiar superhero whose behavior is predictable. All predictability is three sheets to the wind as you will be scratching your head wondering what's next? And this is why American Ultra is a great film. Tarantino violence with a kinda cute twist. Never serious, though seriously performed. A slam, bam, bang and you're not dead kinda film. Great fun. If you take it seriously, you will not pass "go". It's camp. Wonderment. Wit. Kristen Stewart does not let you down, but best not to know too much about this film or its characters as it could destroy the game. The intrigue. The mystery.
Stewart loves Eisenberg and Eisenberg loves Stewart as off they go into the bizarre, silly, violent, criminal world of the CIA. A dance of double agents. Triple agents. Confused agents.
This is not a film to understand or to analyze. The plot is swift with one chase after the other, after a bombing, after fireworks, after drones, helicopters, machine guns. Rat a tat tat. But all ends well in this CIA caper with clever laughs and clever dialogue. Connie Britton is energetic and a marvel as a vicious CIA boss with a heart of jello. Topher Grace, also a CIA head honcho, plays the buffoon with style and believability. The reason this is a funny film is that the entire cast plays this straight. The direction by Nima Nourizadeh is top drawer and the writing by Max Landis is pure original comic book and animated only in the final credits.
Bill Pullman plays the evil CIA cleaner upper. He makes it all work in the end--just what that means cannot be explained in a review for fear of spilling too many beans. This is a film to be seen and not heard. A 'go to' film for the creative mind. Don't miss American Ultra, but don't read too much about it before you have the pleasure of its company.