Film Review: ‘American Ultra’

‘American Ultra’ is about a stoner dude who can’t figure out why he knows 50 different types of tanks and can wield a dustpan to deadly effect.
Mark Jackson
Updated:

“American Ultra”—is it a cigarette brand? No, but it’s certainly a movie about smoking. Very much so. It’s also about that ultra-American kid: the Wal-Mart graveyard-shift cashier who draws comic books behind the checkout counter (Jesse Eisenberg) … except he’s really a secret agent hit man.

Really? Because he doesn’t seem to know that. That’s because he’s Jason Bourne. Well, you know—not actually Jason Bourne, but, like, Beavis Bourne. Butthead James Bond—the amnesia in this case compliments of perpetual weed intake, among other things. “The Bong Identity,” as it were.

Is it any good? It’s pretty fun if you like the idea of a cartoon-sketching slacker with a red-haired (dyed) grunge-babe girlfriend (Kristen Stewart) and top-notch, throw-a-skillet-in-the-air, ricochet-a-bullet-off-it, assassin skills.

Jesse Eisenberg stars as Mike Howell, secret stoner agent, in "American Ultra." (Alan Markfield/Lionsgate)
Jesse Eisenberg stars as Mike Howell, secret stoner agent, in "American Ultra." Alan Markfield/Lionsgate
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
Mark Jackson is the chief film critic for The Epoch Times. In addition to film, he enjoys martial arts, motorcycles, rock-climbing, qigong, and human rights activism. Jackson earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by 20 years' experience as a New York professional actor. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook "How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World," available on iTunes, Audible, and YouTube. Mark is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic.
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