Limitless

Limitless is a movie all about how some people can use more of their brainpower to do better at their jobs, create great art or better the world. It's something I wish everyone in Hollywood aspired to.

Bradley Cooper is Eddie - the procrastinating, unfocused writer who spends more time drinking than typing. Behind on his manuscript, and needing some sort of inspiration to get the story out of his head, Eddie is given a super drug that gives him the ability to use more of his brain and grant him a determination he has never felt before.

Not satisfied with just becoming a great writer, Eddie uses his new found abilities to become filthy rich, which attracts the attention of one of Wall Street's most powerful men, Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro).

Can Eddie become an integral part of Van Loon's impending business deal?

Where does this drug come from?

Are there side effects?

Should you call your doctor if your brain is stimulated for 4 or more hours?

Limitless is a decent, even good, movie, but misses out on being fantastic.

Director Neil Burger clutters up the movie with plenty of visual stuff that is just for show, instead of making an impact on the story or having real meaning. Then, writer Leslie Dixon (based on the novel by Alan Glynn), needs to give the audience more details and intrigue. The shell of a cool story is there, but we need more.

Let's get down and dirty with everything about Eddie's relationship with Lindy (Abbie Cornish), which feels underdeveloped and pushed aside for a major portion of the movie.

Let's get into the intricacies of Van Loon's business, history and the big deal he needs Eddie to complete. De Niro is a great, intimidating, tough figure, but we don't get enough of him.

However, Cooper has what it takes to keep our interest and make Limitless worth checking out. You can't deny he is a major movie star, but Cooper also comes through as an actor, especially as Eddie gets in too deep. He shows us the desperation the character feels, and you experience how worn out and burned out this guy is as his supply runs out, and he might be exposed as a fraud. Burger and Dixon provide the dangerous downward spiral that consumes Eddie, but it wouldn't work without Cooper.

Limitless is proof Cooper can do more than be the Hangover guy.

Limitless is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language.