'Limitless': The Reviews Are In!

See what the critics are saying about Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro's new thriller.
By Eric Ditzian

Bradley Cooper in "Limitless"
Photo: Relativity Media

In "The Hangover," one little pill opens up a whole world of hurt for Bradley Cooper. In "Limitless," one little pill opens up Cooper's whole world. No wonder that in this new thriller, which debuted on Friday (March 18), he can't resist taking it over and over again.

"Limitless" takes the familiar risks-and-rewards-of-drug-use story and tweaks it just enough to have attracted largely positive reviews. Critics have applauded the film's bold visual style and the performances of Cooper and co-star Robert De Niro, even as they've pointed out plot holes and problems with the film's ending. For those critiques and more, read on for what folks are saying about "Limitless":

The Story
"In 'Limitless,' a man gets hooked on a new designer drug that allows him, by popping a little clear tablet once a day, to access 100 percent of his brain, instead of the tiny fraction that's popularly believed that we use. Almost overnight, Eddie (Bradley Cooper) goes from being a scruffy, mumbling novelist with writer's block and a girlfriend (Abbie Cornish) who has just dumped him to a multilingual motormouth with a successful stock portfolio, a photographic memory [and] the analytic powers of Watson the supercomputer.... Soon Eddie is on the run from several disreputable types who have also gotten a jones for mother's little helper, called NZT, the demand for which vastly outstrips the supply. Through a serendipitous — and bloody — series of events, Eddie has come into quite a stash. Understandably, he doesn't want to share it. But he also doesn't want to die." — Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post

The Performances
"The performances break all barriers for 'Limitless.' Despite his rising status as part of 'The Hangover' money machine, Cooper still possesses enough everyman charm and relative anonymity to pull off a character like Eddie, who is smart enough even without NZT to know he's pushing his luck. He's ideally matched with De Niro, playing the canny Wall Streeter Carl Van Loon, for whom [Leslie] Dixon has penned some of the best dialogue De Niro has had since 'Goodfellas.' His 'Don't make me your competition' speech to Eddie could become a quotable riff." — Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The Visuals
"[Director Neil] Burger tries all kinds of visual trickery to imagine the hyper flow of information into a highly receptive brain: When Eddie is writing, letters fall from the ceiling; multiple Eddies are seen performing tasks; flattering light gently bathes Eddie's face; and, in the most inventive yet strangely unsuccessful gimmick, the camera appears to rush through Manhattan streets, gobbling up blocks within seconds." — Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter

The Limits
"Some of the plot holes are hard to ignore; given that Eddie is the world's smartest man, he makes some stunningly stupid mistakes. And the ending — a complete departure from the book — is unabashedly shallow. But all of that makes Cooper the ideal man for this job. 'Limitless' is a superficial, highly buffed sell, and nobody does slick better than the 'Hangover' star. Effortlessly charismatic, he seems to suggest we'd be lucky to go along on his ride. And for the most part, he's right." — Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

The Pace
"The story moves as quickly as the brainiac hero, whose new power demands that he remain in a state of perpetual activity or explode (figuratively). To convey the speed of Eddie's thoughts, Burger employs a slew of nifty special effects, including a new kind of zoom shot that covers miles of Manhattan in a single, breathtaking rush. But for all its peripatetic energy, 'Limitless' still winds up with the same-old blazing guns and wanton destruction of property. No matter how smart you may be, Hollywood will figure out a way to dumb you down." — Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald

Check out everything we've got on "Limitless."

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