"Limitless" is limited, but intriguing nonetheless.
Much of this has to do with director Neil Burger ("The Illusionist"), who brings a kooky edge to the story. The rest has to do with star Bradley Cooper ("The Hangover," "The A-Team") proving he actually might be more than just another pretty face.
Cooper plays Eddie Morra, a would-be writer who's been going nowhere for quite some time. As we meet Eddie he's scraggly and run-down looking, which only goes to show that Bradley Cooper is still killer good-looking even when he's scraggly and run-down.
Early on, Eddie runs into his ex-brother-in-law, a sleazoid type who has just the thing for Eddie: A special pill that will allow him to use all the brain power at his disposal, as opposed to the sliver of gray matter humans use on a regular basis.
Suddenly Eddie's finishing a novel in a couple of days, and it's brilliant. Scoring a few more pills, he realizes he can make a fortune in the financial world. Unfortunately, he needs some start-up money, so he turns to a loan shark (Andrew Howard). Then, when he's scored big, he starts working with a major mogul (Robert De Niro).
Meanwhile, Eddie's dealer runs into some trouble of the dead kind and Eddie makes off with his stash. His addiction grows; his success grows; his stash keeps shrinking. Eventually, his associates want a part of it. Eddie may be on top, but the bottom seems to be beckoning.
It's a straightforward tension Burger is dealing with, working from Leslie Dixon's adaptation of Alan Glynn's novel, but he keeps throwing in little kinks to keep things interesting.
And, at its heart, the film keeps asking: Would you do it? Who could pass it up? Is this the devil in disguise or heaven opening up? You choose.
"Limitless," a Relativity Media release, is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving a drug, violence including disturbing images, sexuality and language. Running time: 105 minutes. Grade B.