For breakfast today, me and some friends went to the local IHOP. We weren’t exactly sure how to get there so we used our GPS devices in our cars to navigate there. On the way, we marveled at how the stop lights changed yellow just as we passed by. And once we had arrived, everyone seemed to be using their i-phones to call other people to join us, or to play games. But what if all these electronics were used against us? Breakfast at IHOP probably wouldn’t happen is what.
Generally this is the concept that Steven Speilberg and co. are throwing at us. Add to this mix some politics regarding a certain war in the Middle East and the current administration, and you’ve got the batter to begin the recipe.

Shia LaBeouf stars as Jerry Shaw, a likable slacker who just wants to get by. Along with him is Michelle Monaghan as Rachel Holloman, a single mom who is too busy to remember where she put her keys. The pairing isn’t the most natural choice but that was probably done on purpose. When these characters first meet, they have nothing in common, they fight and fight eachother as they try to fight their way out of the trouble they’ve gotten into, eventually finding common ground.
The movie starts out emotionally, allowing LaBeouf to show his softer side, and then it kicks it into high gear as our main characters find technology acting against them. Its exciting. The camera swivels close to danger, just as the characters do, not letting you feel detached from the action. Its surprising to see a summer movie this far out of the summer season, but its welcome.

The movie does start to lag a little in the middle. For all the movie’s promise at the beginning, it never quite lives up to its high concept premise. The sets and locations are incredible. The intricate chase scenes make for some hair raising moments. But you never really feel like it was all completely thought out. All the differing elements do tie together at the end, but with a summer full of blockbusters that exceeded expectations, this reviewer hoped this one could send it out with a blast, only it never quite does. This is the kind of movie I would have loved in junior high and anyone under 15 will absolutely love it. In fact, I liked it a lot. It was a very entertaining movie. It just engages on one level. For a weekend night thats fine.

Why you should see it:
Because this is a fun flick that will send you on an adventure that could only happen in your local cineplex.