American Ultra Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Well, this is it. My review of what feels like the hundredth spy flick to come out this year, and guess what? I actually enjoyed it! Despite its uber-patriotic title, American Ultra is a wildly entertaining and insane action-romance, with Jesse Eisenberg & Kristen Stewart both at their best. 

Genre: Action / Comedy

Director: Nima Nourizadeh

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, John Leguizamo, Walton Goggins, Tony Hale, Monique Ganderton & Bill Pullman

Run Time: 96 min.

US Release: 21 August 2015

UK Release: 04 September 2015

German Release: 15 October 2015

Dear lord and Jesus Christ, was I mistaken about this movie! After watching the first trailer, I was sure this would be one of the biggest flops this year, but boy have I been proven wrong again. I am glad I managed to catch an early screening, because American Ultra, directed by Nima Nourizadeh (Project X), turned out to be one of the funniest action-spy features of the year. I can honestly recommend going to see this in cinemas, during happy hour or on a discounted cinema day. 

American Ultra received mixed reviews upon its official US release, with critics panning it for failing to use its full potential. It was also criticised for making use of a stoner as its main hero and for supposedly not being funny enough. This is one of those occasions I can not agree with the critics, as I found this comedic-romantic-action mash-up surprisingly entertaining and likeable. 

The plot revolves around small-town stoner Mike Howell, a young man who spends most of his days smoking weed, writing a graphic novel about a monkey, and worshipping his girlfriend. Mike works at a rundown convenience store until one night, when a mysterious woman approaches him during his shift. She reveals that Mike is actually a dormant CIA sleeper agent targeted for termination. As his former handler, she activates his dormant abilities, forcing Mike, who is terrified and completely unaware of what is happening to him, to use his newfound skills to protect himself and his girlfriend from an incoming threat.

Although nothing groundbreaking, American Ultra is a fun, light-hearted, and unique action spectacle that successfully combines several genres which normally shouldn’t work together. It carries traces of True Romance, wrapping an unconventional love story around bloody, over-the-top action, while also incorporating elements of indie drama and stoner comedy. 

One of my favourite aspects of the picture is how creative it becomes with everyday household objects, turning them into deadly weapons. The movie embraces its messy, chaotic insanity, making it that more entertaining. I also really liked the “fugitive chase” segment between Topher Grace and Jesse Eisenberg throughout the narrative.

Two major parts of this romantic action spy-flick didn’t quite work for me. The first, because the premise is framed as a flashback, it diminishes much of the tension that would build up organically, since the audience already knows that the main character will survive. Secondly, the scenes with Topher Grace inside the CIA headquarters and camp slow the pacing down considerably, taking away from the natural messiness. It’s not that Grace gives a poor performance; I actually enjoyed his over-the-top character, yet these scenes interrupt the otherwise energetic momentum.

Most of the characters in this film are portrayed magnificently. Eisenberg and Stewart once again display wonderful chemistry; I had been waiting to see them reunite on screen again since Adventureland. Jesse Eisenberg effortlessly captures the awkward, small-town slacker, and I absolutely believed his shock and confusion as he comes to the realisation that virtually anything in his hands can become a deadly weapon. His performance gives American Ultra an effective metaphor for the sensation of a panic attack.

I absolutely loved Kristen Stewart as Phoebe. She is surprisingly good, not only exceeding expectations, but also giving the narrative an emotional core through her engaging performance. This is by far one of her strongest roles to date. Connie Britton is equally great as senior CIA agent Victoria Lassetter; she infuses the premise with wit and intelligence, as she tries to protect her protege by doing the morally right thing.

Topher Grace is hilariously entertaining as the selfish, ambitious, and utterly useless Adrian Yates; the “big baddie” of the premise. Yates is the type of person who managed to climb up the corporate ladder by kissing the right asses, despite being completely incompetent for the job.

The one character who feels disappointedly underused and could have been better explored is that of Walton Goggins. Unfortunately, his crazed operative remains way too one-dimensional. I expected better work from him, especially having seen him in Justified, where he plays Boyd Crowder. Here, his talents are criminally untapped, while not given proper guidance. 

Visually, this movie is an absolute treat. It makes excellent use of both matte and neon colour palettes, has eye-catching frames, and incorporates several inventive camera angles. I am also a big fan of the energetic editing style, which reminded me a bit of Kingsman.

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Verdict: All in all, American Ultra may not reinvent the spy genre, but it completely surprised me and kept me entertained from beginning to end. The chaotic cinematography complements the story, the cast delivers strong performances across the board, and while the screenplay isn’t mind-blowing, it is original enough to remain consistently engaging. I definitely recommend catching this one during happy hour or on a cinema day in theatres. I give American Ultra a 7.5 out of 10.

So, did you get the chance to watch American Ultra yet? If so, did you like this romantic spy picture or did you dislike it? Leave a comment below and share this review if you liked it! Thanks for reading.