It all starts so well. Our favourite Bright Young Thing Shia Le Beouf is Jerry, just your average photocopy jockey slacker, who, as Eagle Eye commences, starts receiving menacing phone calls from a sinister female. With more than a nod to The Man Who Knew Too Much, Jerry has just realised that his bank account stuffed with illicit cash and his apartment is mysteriously crammed with weapons, when Billy Bob Thornton’s operatives burst through the door and arrest him on suspicion of being a terrorist. He has little option but to cooperate with the voice on the phone who contrives his escape from the authorities.
Michelle Monaghan, a single mom talking orders from the same all-knowing source, soon joins Jerry as a pawn in this unseen woman’s diabolical schemes. For 45 minutes, the pair tear about the place in an exciting series of explosions and chases. Sadly, after this vigorous prologue, we discover that the voice belongs to a nefarious super computer, built as a super defence system, but now gone super bad. From here, just imagine the stupidest possible outcome, increase it by a google and you’re getting close to how idiotic Eagle Eye gets.
It’s a real shame as D.J. Caruso’s movie-film ought to be first rate popcorn entertainment. But breakneck speed and charming lead actors can’t completely compensate for a dumbass premise and shameless pilfering from far better films like The Parallax View and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
But wait. This evil super-computer is completely different from HAL. It’s got a purple eye not a red one. And it’s voiced by Julianne Moore who didn’t want to be credited for some reason.
Even if you check your big brain at the door, the neurons which take care of essential functions like breathing and sitting will find a way to object.