Mike Howell is a stoner living in a small West Virginia town with his girlfriend Phoebe Larson. He is hoping to propose to her during a holiday in Hawaii but has a panic attack at the airport... as he does every time he tries to leave town. After this incident he starts to wonder why Phoebe stays with him. We soon learn that he isn't an ordinary young man; he is part of a CIA programme known as 'Wiseman'... he doesn't know it but he is a highly trained super-soldier! Back at CIA headquarters Agent Victoria Lasseter, who headed the programme, is warned that all Wiseman agents are being eliminated by similar 'Tough Guy' agents run by rival agent Adrian Yates. She heads to West Virginia and meets Mike and gives him his activation code... he has no ideas what the words mean but shortly afterwards when he is attacked by two Tough Guys he dispatches them with a spoon! He still has no memory but he knows he must fight for his life to save himself and Phoebe as more agents come to kill him.

This film is a bit silly but that doesn't matter as it is a lot of fun. There are quite a few humorous moments as well as plenty of action. It must be stated that the action is brutal to degree that might disturb some viewers. In many ways Mike is very like 'Jason Bourne'... an elite agent with memory problems; he is also very different as he doesn't know he has memory problems and Bourne didn't do drugs and draw comics. The story manages to provide some decent twists. The cast is solid; most notably Jesse Eisenberg who is a lot of fun as Mike... a character who is understandably confused when he realises he has elite combat skills. Kristen Stewart provides solid support as Phoebe. Topher Grace is good fun as villain Yates; he isn't a typical action movie villain... his character is far from tough. Overall this is a fun film that provides solid action with some good laughs.

Over the Top...Down the Rabbit Hole...and Traveling through Another Dimension, this Colorful, Shining, and Outrageous Action-Comedy hits its Target Audience square in the Cerebral Cortex causing a Mind Melting Trip that is Ultra-Pleasant but not without Side-Effects.

There is an Underlying Anxiety to all of the Fun and Danger because in some Alternative Universe that is Reality, this Type of Thing is too Close to the Truth to be Enjoyed without being a Cautionary Tale of Conspiracy Theories that often turn out to be True.

MK-Ultra, a Government Sponsored Black Ops Embarrassment uncovered in the 1970's revealed Disturbing Mind Control Experiments performed by the CIA using Unsuspecting Citizens as Guinea Pigs. Unbelievable and too Complex to be included here, suffice to say this Movie is more True than You would Believe.

Therefore, it's not a Laugh a Minute but it does Contain some Black Comedy, but relies more on Ultra-Violence and Super-Style to give the Message Meaning and be Entertaining with a Cartoon Look.

Not Everything Works, but Most of it Does, and the Film feels Awkward, Odd, and while it is Slick, Sleek, and Artsy, the Anxiety felt by Jesse Eisenberg's "MiKe" (get it) transfers to the Audience like some kind of "Contact High".

Overall, its Pulsating Presentation is part of the Uneasy Charm and will most likely be Enjoyed by its Target Audience, others not in on the "Vibe" will probably Protest its Conceits and won't have a Clue about any of it.

Note...The end Credits Cartoon is a hilarious Hoot.

Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg) is stuck in the small town of Liman, West Virginia. His girlfriend Phoebe Larson (Kristen Stewart) is the only good thing in his life. He's a convenience store clerk and has panic attacks whenever he tries to leave town. CIA Agent Victoria Lasseter (Connie Britton) is told that her Ultra program and Mike is to be eliminated by her CIA rival Adrian Yates (Topher Grace). Victoria goes to activate Mike turning him into a skilled action hero.

The basic premise has good potential and Eisenberg could be fun as an action lead. The CIA stuff is distracting and Topher Grace is barely functional in his role. The movie would improve by cutting out half of that part. The potential is never fully realized. There are fun moments that could have been much better. I can't pinpoint the exact problem but much of the blame has to be laid at the feet of sophomore director Nima Nourizadeh who made the indie party movie Project X. There are numerous little problems that add up to be a bit of a disappointment.