In American Ultra, the unexpected is the order of the day. Jesse Eisenberg delivers a performance that is both amusingly lethargic and surprisingly effective as he navigates his sudden emergence as a highly trained operative. Kristen Stewart provides…
American Ultra
Mike is an unmotivated stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend, Phoebe, is suddenly turned upside down. Unbeknownst to him, Mike is actually a highly trained, lethal…
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American Ultra aims for quirky charm and edgy action, but frequently misses the mark. The central concept, a stoner discovering he’s a super-spy, has potential, but the execution feels rather pedestrian. Jesse Eisenberg’s performance, while familiar, doesn’t quite…
A thoroughly enjoyable romp, American Ultra succeeds where many genre mash-ups fail by fully committing to its premise. Jesse Eisenberg is pitch-perfect as the unwitting sleeper agent, his inherent awkwardness providing a constant source of comedic tension. Kristen…
This is a film that tries to be too many things at once. American Ultra attempts to marry the laid-back vibe of a weed comedy with the urgency of a spy thriller, and the results are mixed. Jesse…
American Ultra offers a surprisingly effective blend of stoner comedy and high-octane action. Jesse Eisenberg embodies the disaffected Mike with a familiar yet charmingly bewildered air, perfectly set against Kristen Stewart's grounded performance as Phoebe. The film leans…
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The film navigates its shifts between stoner comedy and violent action with a deliberate, often surprising, fluidity. The humour arises from the absurdity of a highly trained operative being utterly unprepared for his own skills, and the juxtaposition of his laid-back demeanour with sudden bursts of lethal efficiency. This tonal balancing act is a key element of the film's charm, creating unexpected laughs amidst the mayhem and keeping the audience engaged with its unconventional approach.