American Assassin

Lionsgate | Release Date: September 15, 2017

5.7	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 140 Ratings

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hotbreadDec 2, 2017

If you’ve never read the original Mitch Rapp novels you might think this movie is ok. But the original source material is so strong that to anyone who has read the books this movie is a travesty. The casting is dubious, but it would have beenIf you’ve never read the original Mitch Rapp novels you might think this movie is ok. But the original source material is so strong that to anyone who has read the books this movie is a travesty. The casting is dubious, but it would have been ok if the script and direction were even halfway decent. As it is, the characters are severely one-dimensional, and the script reads like “my first dialogue”. In short, a long-awaited movie franchise disappoints.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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Popcorn55Feb 11, 2018

The actor playing Rapp isn't physically imposing enough to be credible in the role. Seems like a kid, no threat, doesn't seem appropriate at all. No voltage. The idea that he somehow works out for 6 months and then starts infiltratingThe actor playing Rapp isn't physically imposing enough to be credible in the role. Seems like a kid, no threat, doesn't seem appropriate at all. No voltage. The idea that he somehow works out for 6 months and then starts infiltrating terrorist cells in Libya, knows the Koran and speaks Arabic, etc. -- just doesn't fly at all, right off the bat. It's the kind of thing an inexperienced screenwriter writes, and it seems OK to read it in the script, but it doesn't actually play well to the audience. The intuition to detect this kind of problem and avoid it is a prime distinguishing characteristic of better screenwriters and directors. The whole movie somehow fails to create the suspense and credibility that Bond, Bourne, etc. do so well. It's like an imitation spy movie. I actually fast-forwarded through several parts of the DVD, just couldn't sustain interest -- and many scenes are hard to figure, stuff happens but it's not very clear exactly what. Lots of foreign dialogue with tiny subtitles hard to see on the TV also detract from the storytelling. Weird fail, doesn't make the grade despite a lot of effort that obviously went into it. The lousy special effects at the end - blue-tone CGI stuff - puts the nail in it. It's that blue-tone 1997-style video-game CGI that more than anything, brands a bad movie these days.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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temptershellOct 8, 2017

Predictable thriller with a familiar storyline. Many of similar films had better cast and better scripted. The film should be held tense or even try to do it, and this production can not even get into the situation of heroes. UnfortunatelyPredictable thriller with a familiar storyline. Many of similar films had better cast and better scripted. The film should be held tense or even try to do it, and this production can not even get into the situation of heroes. Unfortunately it's a flap.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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AndreBertrandOct 5, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. **** spoiler alert ****
I like the idea of the film but screenplay and direction are way below average. The characters are thrown into the scenes without a proper construction. The last quarter of the film simply threats the audience as if we still believe in Santa. It begins with the main character using a car that was far from the tunnel entrance to invade the place his boss was being captive, then the villan sets the bomb to 20 minutes although the real target was at least one hour away and last but not least it seems that the explosion of a nuclear device wouldn't destroy miles and miles of italian coast with a tsunami. Twelve year old kids will like it. Don't you dare compare it with Jason Bourne and James Bond films!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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mrsynakyNov 25, 2017

One star is too generous for this movie. Bad script, horrible acting. you don't know who is worse Michael Keaton who plays a former Navy Seal or the main character who is skinny uninteresting kid with no appeal. Its a bad version of BourneOne star is too generous for this movie. Bad script, horrible acting. you don't know who is worse Michael Keaton who plays a former Navy Seal or the main character who is skinny uninteresting kid with no appeal. Its a bad version of Bourne identity, typical bad guys in various locations in Europe running around, car chasing, killing and fight scenes.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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shpostalSep 15, 2017

Hollywood never tires of these impossible odds tales of international "intrigue", with spying, ultra violence, poetic justice, yadda yadda yadda. And because this genre is so gentrified and cliched, it takes special writing and casting,Hollywood never tires of these impossible odds tales of international "intrigue", with spying, ultra violence, poetic justice, yadda yadda yadda. And because this genre is so gentrified and cliched, it takes special writing and casting, not to mention direction to rise above the rest. "American Assassin" does not. Vince Flynn is the author of the mass market paperback series that features Mitch Rapp, a seemingly indestructable intelligent agent in the vein of other fictional tough guys like Brad Thor's Scot Harvath, or Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. Had I recognized this as a Flynn book I probably would have chosen not to see this movie because unlike at least Brad Thor, who writes more interesting stories, I thought the one Flynn book I read was as cliched and hackneyed as James Patterson or a dozen other authors who churn out the same formulaic tripe book after book after book. So we have Dylan O'Brien acting the Rapp character, and right away the movie starts to fail under its own premise. For my money, O'Brien is, for all intent and purposes, another Keanu Reeves style actor, all muscle, violence and the personality of a bar of soap. Mitch Rapp is supposed to be the ultimate charismatic badass, striking fear into the foe and in theory at least somewhat emotional. Sorry. He just plain does not convey the personality his character is supposed to be. The only saving grace is Michael Keaton, but he can't save this clunker, either. Even the premise of an inevitable nuclear explosion failed to pique my interest. It's political thriller done by a paint-by-numbers kit, and for all its supposed gun violence and the usual stereotypical terrorist behavior, one of the year's yawners.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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khashayarghkhJan 17, 2018

This movie is not just badly executed, it's also stupid, and the way they've represented the Iranian people and Iran's foreign policies is just "f****d up"! i got no other words to explain this. and Michael Keaton going from working withThis movie is not just badly executed, it's also stupid, and the way they've represented the Iranian people and Iran's foreign policies is just "f****d up"! i got no other words to explain this. and Michael Keaton going from working with Alejandro on Birdman, and films like spotlight to this "American assassin" is just such a downgrade. I give 0 out of 10 to this film. and i'm type of a person, who believes that there's no such thing as a bad film, but this film is bad, beyond explanation. i know that it's based on a poor novel, which aimed for something else, but not every novel should deserve the chance to become a film.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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zstarkey20May 4, 2018

I liked the casting decisions, but hated the plot. I am a die hard Vince Flynn fan, and I left the movie disappointed.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Murphydh1Apr 11, 2020

Wooden characters a disjointed plot that at times can't get from one plot line to another

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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lola852Jul 5, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this movie is horrible! I was excited to watch it at first. When they started to speak Arabic it was gibberish. I understand English, Arabic and French and couldn't understand one word. Dylan O'Brien didn't say one word properly in Arabic. The only word he got correct was Salam (hi). the Arabic language is so beautiful why did you have to do it like that. the 2nd problem is why do they always make arabs as terrorists when America was in the lead in 2017 (when the movie was made) overall it doesn't have a good plot and this movie makes Americans look dumb. as a Canadian I am disappointed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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SheSHereAug 22, 2022

Basic formulaic unrealistic plot you've seen 100 times before.
Dreadful casting, with the high-pitched lead looking like he's just came from a failed boyband audition. He's about as believable as an action hero as a poodle trying to be aBasic formulaic unrealistic plot you've seen 100 times before.
Dreadful casting, with the high-pitched lead looking like he's just came from a failed boyband audition. He's about as believable as an action hero as a poodle trying to be a pitbull. The fact you can spot his stuntman in several action scenes doesn't help.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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