Review of American Ultra (2015) by Steve C — 30 Dec 2016

This movie reunites Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg for what I think is the first time since the delightful Adventureland. These two play very well together. They are like Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor with a high level of screen chemistry that they are hard to resist. (I was watching them a couple weeks ago on TCM).

Adventureland was more or less a teen coming of age rom-com, a good one. To reunite they make a very good choice with American Ultra. It retains some of the rom-com elements but puts it all into a CIA conspiracy sci-fi action movie. I thought it worked and that if they wanted they could continue with this in sequel.

There is a lot of violent action and blood. It is mostly a sort of lucid chamber music violence, not the big confusing orchestrated violence commonly found in mega budget product.

And the stars get some very well done two character scenes together. We also get an amusing performance by the great John Leguizamo ( yes I'm the person who thinks The Pest is a good movie), as Mike's pot dealer buddy.

A really fine entertainment product.