The lack of scientific research is the only Limitless thing about this movie

Rating: 3/10 (22 December 2011)

I give this movie three stars because I admit it's entertaining to some degree, but not for more than one viewing.
First off, the entire premise of the movie is based on a completely disproved flub of a myth that has been shoved down our throats since the first self-improvement cassette was ever recorded. The idea that we use only a small percentage of our brains at any given time is total BS. But the concept tries to go one step further and convince the audience that this drug allows 100 percent use of the brain at all times for nothing more than cognitive thinking.
If that were the case, how was the subject moving his body, keeping his respiration up, his heart beating? There's more to brain activity than thinking. It does perform other functions, you know.
Secondly, if this movie had been realistic, Eddie's wonder drug pill wouldn't have simply made him smarter, clearer, motivated and confident, it would have left him crippled by all the sensory overload.
Thirdly: How does a writer possess the ability to form a character who is super smart when the screen writer himself is a total moron? This being obvious from all the embarrassing plot holes and supposed "smart" things that Eddie does the entire movie? Like not pay back the dangerous loan shark after making 2 million from the 100k he borrowed. Buying himself an expensive fortress that did about as much good for him as holing up inside a cardboard box. Doubling up on a still untested drug before even understanding its side effects?
And LASTLY, how can anyone create a script about drug abuse where the abuser walks away from it pretty much unscathed, getting all the things he wants in the end, and getting away with murder?! The whole murder thing that even Eddie himself was unsure as to whether or not he was guilty of was given a nod to but then shoved away to make room for more plot-driven devices that displayed more of Eddie's stupidity. Rather than solve these unanswered questions, it just shoots ahead 12 months where Eddie is running for president with a very strong chance to win when there's still this witness out there who claims Eddie murdered that woman. In what universe do murder suspects who never actually come around to defending themselves ever get elected senator or president?
I went into this expecting everything about NZT to be this incredible wonder drug with horrifying consequences that would unsettle me down to my core. While I see the writer TRIED to take it to a dark place, ultimately, he caved to the squeaky clean Hollywood happy ending, and everyone watching the movie walked out wishing they could take NZT and become super human. Not a very good message to send to this world already suffering under the explosion of such drugs like meth. Tasteless and spineless at the same time.