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You have to admit the appeal of a movie like this.  We’ve endured countless plots over the years involving psycho-tropic substances and their adverse affects on the regular Joe, but this time it feels hipper, more twisted, and a bit sexy thanks to its leading duo.  A pill that can give you limitless potential.  The concept is intriguing, and each of us may even question whether or not we would ingest and what would be the ultimate result in our own lives if we did?  Well before we wax all philosophical on that, let’s look at the direction the filmmakers went.

Eddie Mora is a groping pseudo writer grinding out his days doing just the opposite.  Stuck with a case of writer’s block, an inpatient girlfriend whom he just broke up with, and no desire to use his talent – he stumbles onto an opportunity.  A pill.  Not just any pill, but one that purports to enhance your brain function and allow you to use the limitless potential locked away.  Instant access to short term memory blips from your childhood, insane ability to memorize and see mathematical figures, foreign languages, musical instruments, even your physical ability is enhanced.  But, like any pill there are side effects.   In Eddie’s case it’s a combination of the shady characters who know about this illegal designer pill and who are willing to kill him to get it, the learned after effect of ingesting which is a dying dependence on it (and I mean dying), and his new-found smarts ability to put him at the head of the largest corporate merger in history.  Should be a piece of cake for a man with limitless potential, right?

Not so much.  The film is fun; don’t get me wrong but when it needs to form itself and end, it loses out.  Of course it’s great to watch his meteoric rise from $12K in the bank to over $2 million in less than 2 weeks,  A-list parties and a rock star life, it was like watching HBO’s Entourage.   But that, does not a movie, make.   Its plot stretches certain areas of believability, at least within certain character instances.   Mora’s girlfriend (Abbie Cornish, A Good Year) takes a rocket ride of emotions and relationship leaps around his highs and lows in the film, but even her vivid looks can’t save such a flawed character.  Tomas Arana (Gladiator) portrays a chauffeur from hell, but his zeal to appease his owner is just flat out unbelievable.  By the time the film wraps, you’re still asking is that all I get?  Is this the ending that tested through the roof for the filmmakers?  It had such promise, and for a film touting limitless potential…I felt it came up short.  Will you like the ride?  Yes.  Is Cooper solid as a leading man?  Yes.  Did Robert Deniro play a redeeming role, finally, after flops like Stone and Machete?  No.  Will this film have an opportunity at this weekend’s Box Office?  A very limited…No.

3 Stars out of 5.

Limitless is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving drugs, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language.  Running Time: 105 minutes