American Assassin

Parental Rating: R

Contains: Language    Nudity    Violence    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens September 15, 2017 

Runs 111 minutes

Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien) is a happy guy - he just got engaged to his girlfriend Katrina (Charlotte Vega). Then his world is turned upside down when a terror attack leaves his fiance dead ahd him clinging to life. As he recovers, he sets his sights on revenge and trains like a mad man to go after the terrorists that ruined his life. The CIA happens to have their eye on him and he is recruited into their super secret counter-terrorism program called Orion. There he is under the supervision of the Assistant Director Irene Kennedy (Sanaa Latham) and the battle hardened Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton). Mitch is trained to become a fighting machine and is soon sent to hunt down nuclear materials that have fallen into the wrong hands. Can Mitch stop a nuclear attack before hundreds of lives are lost?

This is a serviceable thriller with a fairly predictable plot but pretty great action sequences. Michael Keaton eats up the screen (and chomps on someone's ear!). He provides humor and gravitas. I thought Dylan O'Brien was pretty good as Mitch Rapp. Having read the books, I wasn't disappointed in him like I was when they cast Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. He is cute and definitely athletic. I think he will grow with the role in any future sequels. Sanaa Latham was underused. She mostly rode around and carried her purse/briefcase no matter where she went. I like her so let's hope she has more to do in future installments. If you go into the film hoping for Jason Bourne, you will be disappointed. If you are just hoping for a good action film, then you might enjoy this one. Especially, if you have read the books. The film deviates from them but sticks to the core ideals of the series. There are nice stunts and a couple of pretty exciting action scenes. A decent way to spend 2 hours. Give it a shot and go see it.

Movie Search

Find a movie by name, genre, or ranking.