Surprisingly entertaining and even thought-provoking.

Rating: 8/10 (1 August 2014)

Less an action sci-fi like the promotional material suggested, and more a cerebral thriller with some kickass scenes thrown in, Luc Besson's movie is surprisingly entertaining and, dare I say it, even thought provoking. The central premise revolves around Scarlett Johannson's put upon drug smuggler, who, after accidentally receiving a large dose of the product, has the ability to unlock parts of the brain previously untapped by humans. The dubious science behind the concept aside, the story progresses in a smart and intriguing manner (if not subtle in its underlying message) all the way to the ambitious denouement, which will have you either scoffing or, like me, completely enthralled. There are also a handful of exceptionally designed action sequences that keep the blood pumping; an early gun-tastic showdown in a hotel with a mirroring, gun-less confrontation in a hospital later on provide a couple of noteworthy examples. The so-hot-right-now ScarJo is fine in the lead role and Morgan Freeman plays Morgan Freeman like nobody else (even when phoning it in), however it is the quietly impactful Min-sik Choi (Oldboy) who shines brightest as the drug kingpin looking for revenge. It has been a long time since the French director scored a hit (The Fifth Element back in 1997), but Lucy has everything necessary to snap that losing streak.