Director: Tony Gilroy
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach, Scott Glenn
Rating: (M)
2 stars (out of 5)
The United States Government is shutting down a spy programme and CIA agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) is number five on the hit parade. His hours are also numbered.
The evil empire has him reliant on "chems". The blue pills enhance intelligence and the green ones physical prowess.
Naturally, number five teams up with a comely scientist (Rachel Weisz) who alternates between glasses on, to prove she's a brain, and glasses off, to show she's a babe and reach every adolescent demographic. There is plenty of sexual chemistry between the spy and the scientist.
There's lots of action too with agent Cross taking down many a foe and an uncomfortable amount of throat slitting.
But, essentially, it's an against-all-odds love story.
Robert Ludlum is a cracking writer.
But, he wasn't involved in the fourth iteration of the Bourne franchise. No Matt Damon as the secret agent this time either, although he is heavily referenced through news-bulletin flashbacks.
Unfortunately, film franchises all too often dip into farce.
This was ultimately yet another "blockbuster" that leaves you wishing the film-makers had spent less on special effects and more on the storyline.
Best thing: The drones were very scary.
Worst thing: Endless blurry chase scenes.
See it with: Anyone who likes movies.
