'American Ultra': the Jesse Eisenberg schtick is getting old

You just can’t go wrong with a good spy flick.

But what happens when you take a great “Manchurian Candidate” premise and give it a stoner spin?

THE FILM

Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg) is just your average stoner living in a small town. He gets high, goes to work at his mundane convenience store job, and spends the rest of his time drawing. But he’s about to make a change: He’s going to propose to his live-in girlfriend Phoebe (Kristen Stewart).

Of course, even if she says yes, the two will have to stay in town because Mike gets unusual panic attacks if he ever tries to leave. He becomes physically sick, so the two are basically stuck there.

Everything changes, though, when the mysterious Victoria Lasseter (Connie Britton) shows up at the convenience store to mumble some nonsensical words to Mike. It appears Mike may be more than he seems – and he doesn’t even know it.

What follows is maelstrom of spies, bullets, marijuana and explosions.  And John Leguizamo.

“American Ultra” is a fun, shoot-em-up comedy that doesn’t disappoint … too much. The biggest problem this movie had came in the form of Eisenberg himself.

It’s not that this neurotic, stuttering character wasn’t integral to telling the story; it’s just that it’s the same neurotic, stuttering character we see from Eisenberg. Every. Single. Time.

What surprised me most, though, was how much I enjoyed Kristen Stewart. Sadly, the “Twilight” movies may have too much sway over audiences’ perception of her, and I think she’s getting the short end of the stick. She’s totally capable of being funny, smart and badass. It’s just a shame she’ll always have that Bella stink on her.

In the end, I was hoping for more, but what that “more” was, I can’t exactly say. Did it have great villain? Yes. Topher Grace played the guy you really want to punch in the face (like he always does). Did it have great protagonists? For sure. Connie Britton was probably the best thing about this movie.

It featured a nice mix of comedy and action, and it definitely didn’t take its ridiculous premise too seriously. So what should have changed, I wonder?

I guess I just wish someone else were cast as the lead.

IS IT WORTH SEEING IN THEATERS?

There are definitely aspects of “American Ultra” that are great on the big screen – namely explosions. But the movie isn’t great enough that you need to shell out full price for it now. Wait for it to head to the dollar theater.

RATING

2 ½ out of 5 stars

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