Review - Matt Mungle

   

Salt is the new spy thriller from writer Kurt Wimmer (Law Abiding Citizen) that is at times Jason Bourne and at times just boring. It is always exciting to see Angelina put on her action hat but this time she seems to have lost a spring or two in her step. Maybe it is the fact that 80 pound action heroes are hard to buy into. Would it kill her to eat a burger for heaven sake? Try a little carb-a-load next time.

Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is an apple pie eating CIA officer who has served her country well. But she finds herself on the run from her friends and peers when she is accused of being a Russian spy. Her friend and loyal colleague Ted Winter now has to play both sides as he tries to catch Salt (Liev Schreiber) while still proclaiming her innocence. Movie goers soon learn that not everything is as it seems and we then have to decide for ourselves who Salt really is.

The premise and story line of the film is intriguing and has all the ingredients to make a superb spy thriller. It has tasty Cold War morsels that reflect on the old school spy flicks; yet with a strong, modern age telling. The action sequences are well timed, fast paced and utterly impossible. So one would think that this is a fantastic film but sadly it is just, OK. It would be easy to blame Jolie for the misfires in this flick. At times she seems very stiff and uncomfortable in the fight scenes and action sequences. As an intense, dramatic actress she is sublime but I am thinking she has lost her kick butt edge. She is a fabulous spy if conversation and peering eyes are her weapon. Everything else? Not so much.

Personally though I think the director (Phillip Noyce) should be to blame. With a talent such as Angelina he could have better suited his film to fit what she brings to the table. He does that with Schreiber who brings a killer job to his role. But the rest of the film weaves in and out too much. One moment you are caught up in the story and the next thrown out due to some badly fitted action scene.

Salt is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action. The language is has a splattering of adultness but not so much that you should be concerned. The violence is mainly what garners a strong PG-13. This film is entertaining and most will find it an exciting time at the theater. Those who are looking for a top notch film from beginning to end may walk away disappointed. It gets 3.5 out of 5 launch sequences. It is missing too many elements to be a solid, direct hit.