![](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/104.jpg)
![World of Blackout Film Review World of Blackout Film Review](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015header1.gif)
![American Ultra Poster American Ultra Poster](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/104.jpg)
American Ultra
Cert: 15 / 96 mins / Dir. Nima Nourizadeh / Trailer
![WoB Rating: 5/7 WoB Rating: 5/7](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015toprating05.gif)
Well, this might be the most fun I've had in Jesse Eisenber's company since Zombieland (although his character here isn't a million miles away from that other). Like some inspired mashup between Clerks and The Manchurian Candidate, American Ultra tells the tale of Mike Howell, a CIA sleeper-agent turned stoner store-clerk as his worlds collide when he's marked for termination by his superiors.
The film's opening scene sees a beaten and bruised Howell (Eisenberg) in a police cell after the events of the story. What follows is a super-fast rewind of the tale, showing snippets of what's going to unfold and robbing the narrative of at least one point of tesion (Howell's survival) in the process; but it also drops plenty of call-forwards in the process and is an early indicator of the fun to come.
Massively entertaining when it's on-fire, and one of the very few stoner-comedies that didn't irritate me on any level (I generally find them quite self indulgent), American Ultra never quite manages to reconcile its dark-streak as the film's characters are drawn primarily for comedy, and the film's second act sags a little when things slow down and move towards traditional thriller territory. It's much better at being an action-comedy than an action-thriller, although the final showdown is almost Matrix-esque in its brutally slick precision.
As funny as the film is, I have to say that many of the gags from the trailer worked better in the trailer, due to the sharper timing. But, if Hawaiian shirts, gunfire, claw-hammers and astronaut-apes are your thing, there'll be plenty for you in American Ultra…
![Is this film worth paying £10+ to see? Is this film worth paying £10+ to see?](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015q1.gif)
I probably wouldn't go that far…
![Well, I don't like the cinema. Buy it, rent it, or wait for it to be on telly? Well, I don't like the cinema. Buy it, rent it, or wait for it to be on telly?](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015q2.gif)
If you buy it once it comes down to around £7, it'll stand you in good stead for nights in with friends and the mind-altering chemicals of your choice (legal ones, naturally).
![Does this film represent the best work of the leading performer(s)? Does this film represent the best work of the leading performer(s)?](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015q3.gif)
Everyone's clearly having a great time, that's what's important (this really isn't a 'performance' film).
![Does the film achieve what it sets out to do? Does the film achieve what it sets out to do?](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015q4.gif)
It does.
![Will I think less of you if we disagree about how good/bad this film is? Will I think less of you if we disagree about how good/bad this film is?](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015q5.gif)
I won't.
![Oh, and is there a Wilhelm Scream in it? Oh, and is there a Wilhelm Scream in it?](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015q6.gif)
There isn't.
![…but what's the Star Wars connection? …but what's the Star Wars connection?](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015q7.gif)
Topher Grace starred in 2000's Traffic along with Benicio Del Toro, who's set to make an appearance in 2017's Star Wars Episode VIII.
![And if I HAD to put a number on it... And if I HAD to put a number on it…](http://www.skittlez.co.uk/worldofblackout/blogref/2015m/2015rating05.gif)
DISCLAIMERS:
• ^^^ That's dry, British humour, and most likely sarcasm or facetiousness.
• Yen's blog contains harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Reader discretion is advised.
• This is a personal blog. The views and opinions expressed here represent my own thoughts (at the time of writing) and not those of the people, institutions or organisations that I may or may not be related with unless stated explicitly.
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