Rating of
2/4
'Ultra' Downer
Unknown - wrote on 08/22/15
'American Ultra' is not the movie it was advertised to be. This action/comedy is very light on comedy and heavy on dark dramatic themes. Only a small amount of humor exists. The tone morphs into a somber reflection of the film's brutal violence, making the overtly bloody killings no fun at all. The final fight had me feeling bad for the dead men who were just doing their job. There's no actual villain. Everyone is following orders that have no evil implications or ulterior motives. This comes about in the dour second half. The first half is a bit lighter. Much time is devoted to setting up the main characters and their loving relationship. I was actually invested in their romance. They have a few nice heartfelt moments. It pays off in the finale. All the actors are great. Eisenberg carries the film with strong believability in his character. He's able to convincingly switch between the timid, confused, paranoid stoner and the expert assassin with ease. The film is an uneven mix of conflicting ideals, but the end goal of the narrative remains intact. People expecting what the trailer promised might still like most of this film if they properly adjust those expectations about half tilt in the opposite direction.
