AMERICAN ULTRA

If I Were A Sleeper Agent
AMERICAN ULTRA

By Tinsel & Tine Editor, Le Anne Lindsay

If I were a sleeper agent, God forbid they station me in some podunk town working in a mini-mart, until I’m possibly activated. I’d need to be enjoying a glam existence of chic couture, world travel, good food and a semi-high profile cover, like a celebrated artist or clothing designer. When activated, kicking ass as a killing machine, would never do, I’d like to become a master manipulator, gaining access to people in places of power and bending their will to mine.

In AMERICAN ULTRA, Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg) has no such luck, he’s in the smallest, poorest town middle America has to offer, yet despite suffering from panic attacks and a fear of travel, Mike’s relatively happy smoking weed, drawing a superhero space monkey into a little notebook and entertaining his girlfriend with stories of its exploits. This girlfriend, Phoebe (Kristen Stewart) is the real source of his contentment. Mike is crazy about Phoebe, so much so he’s saved up his mini-mart money, and is determined to overcome his fears in order to take Phoebe on a Hawaiian vacation to pop the question. Problem being, Mike’s inability to leave town is not a phobia, it’s brainwashing – and since the CIA program which trained Mike is defunct, the powers that be feel the best way to keep him contained is to eliminate him; only, when awakened, that proves to be an impossible task.

SR: You have to have physicality, but you are obviously not supposed to bulk up because you are supposed to be this stoner guy. Is it mostly just about choreography other than strength training and stuff like that?

Jesse Eisenberg: Yeah. I was in Michigan working last month, so they hired these great guys. Every day off I had was working with them. they were teaching like Southeast Asian style fighting. Rob Alonzo is the stunt coordinator. READ MORE
Interview by Kofi Outlaw for ScreenRant

Bottom line: For a relatively new director, Nima Nourizadeh does a fantastic job keeping the action tight and a good balance between fun, fight stunts and a “save the girl” love story; due in great part to a very workable script by Max Landis. I’ve never seen Eisenberg (who I can’t picture as Lex Luthor in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and Stewart in Adventureland, but neither of them I feel are very likable personalities, both good actors, but each can be off-putting in their own way. Yet in American Ultra, I have to say, they’re fun.

Food in Film: Mike is able to defend himself and do some serious damage with a Cup of Noodles and a spoon, so upon leaving the theater we all got a weapon… I mean, some soup 😉 #UltraNoodlesPHL