A very good idea poorly exploited

Rating: 6/10 (23 August 2014)

Lucy, by Luc Besson, is yet another example of movies relying too much on FX effects and not paying too much attention to the story development. As far as Lucy is concerned, it really is a pity. As a Besson fan, I was especially disappointed, as I was expecting stronger character development such as in 'Leon the professional' or 'La femme Nikita' style.
The first half of the movie begins beautifully. Scarlet Johansson does a good job as Lucy, a terrified student 'hired' by drug dealers as a mule to transport a new brand of drug. There are a few plot holes (how come the drug lord does not know this new drug is coming his way), but the action is fast-paced, so it does not really matter. After a violent interaction with one of the drug dealers, the drug bag breaks into Lucy's body and the content start to transform her into an evolving being. So far so good.
Unfortunately, trouble begins with the second half of the movie, as Lucy increases her brain capacity. It looks like as if the director, since he does not know what a brain using 100% of its capacity looks like, decided to provide the viewers with an experience à la '2001 Space Odyssey'. Images of time travel, space, body transformation are thrown at us and they do nothing for story development. I mean, a face to face between today's Lucy and her prehistorical alter ego? Come on! Lucy's pairing with a French police officer looks ridiculous at best. Morgan Freeman looks too much like he is on the Discovery channel discussing the universe expansion.
Overral a decent effort, at 90 minutes running time you don't have enough time to really get annoyed with the movie. But if you are used to Besson previous superior work you are likely to be disappointed with 'Lucy'.