Worst Ending In Recent Film History

Rating: 2/10 (11 July 2013)

Was there ever a film that promised so much and delivered so little? First, if they are going to put warnings on cigarettes, then this film should come with its own warning, "Matt Damon pulled a 'Sean Connery' on us, and walked away from one of the most profitable film franchises ever .. so we had to work with what we had. Sorry." This is merely a courtesy to the audience. And courtesy to the audience is in short supply here. The first hour promises so much. Renner's character, Damon's replacement, is introduced majestically. Literally, majestically. Not an easy feat, that, and critics who felt the entire (!) script was weak missed this. The second Act is a botch -- some sort of weird international medical thriller that seems like it was borrowed from Robin Cook or Michael Crichton. Makes you wonder if you are watching the same film? Did someone switch theatres on you? But the ending, OMIGAWD, the ending, is so off-note that you wonder if film students 100 years from now (when the movie is beamed directly to your cortex, I imagine) will still be writing about it? To salvage what little drama remains in Act II, the script conjures up a bad guy from yet another obscure Black Ops program who SUPPOSEDLY can outperform Renner or Damon (ie, the original Bourne). It is a cheap setup, unworthy of this franchise, but better than a kick in the head with a wooden leg. So how does this confrontation end? A battle of wits? Nope. A brawl, mano a mano? Nope. Riding on his cycle, Renner summarily shoots the new super-villain, and rides off into the sunset with the girl. Not making this up. Wish I was. Not the fault of the Director. The studio exec who signed off on this should be making change at a MacDonalds.