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American Ultra
2015 96 min Switzerland, United States of America R 18+
★5.8
Action, Comedy
Director: Nima Nourizadeh
Trailers
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Description
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 sleeper agent. In the blink of an eye, as his secret past comes back to haunt him, Mike is thrust into the middle of a deadly government operation and is forced to summon his inner action-hero in order to survive.
Budget:
$28M
US Gross:
$14.44M
Worldwide:
$27.1M
Starring
Jesse Eisenberg
Actor
Kristen Stewart
Actor
Connie Britton
Actor
Key opinion
American Ultra receives a polarized reception, with many viewers enjoying its blend of quirky action, dark comedy, and the lead couple's chemistry. However, critics frequently point to a disjointed tone, uneven pacing, and a narrative that struggles to balance its ambitious genre-bending elements.
| Acting | Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart share convincing, chemistry-driven performances that anchor the film's tone. | |
| Originality | The film attempts to subvert spy and action tropes with an original concept, though it fails to reach the consistency of its genre benchmarks. | |
| Pacing | The narrative balance between action-packed thriller elements and slow-paced melodrama is frequently criticized as disjointed and unstable. | |
| Humor | The humor is polarizing, with some finding the witty dialogue and situational gags refreshing, while others dismiss the film as lacking genuine laughs. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed by some as an engaging, unique parody, but criticized by others for becoming convoluted, predictable, and logic-defying as it progresses. | |
| Direction | Director Nima Nurizade’s work is divisive, with some praising his ability to create a visually interesting, chaotic experience and others citing poor direction as the cause for the film's uneven execution. |