The biggest mistake I made going into Salt was thinking it would be The Bourne Identity with a chick. That was probably a little too much to hope for. While Angelina Jolie can certainly kick ass with the best of them, she is no Jason Bourne. Salt moves at a brisk pace and it certainly offers up wonderfully conceived action sequences (my favorite features Jolie leaping from an over pass and landing atop a moving semi), but my problem with the film is that its mostly just action for action's sake. I guess I prefer action movies in which the big chase is dictated by the plot. In Salt, its the opposite. Its like screenwriter Kurt Wimmer (who wrote and directed the clever sci-fi actioneer Equilibrium) and director Phillip Noyce sat around, came up with some kick ass set pieces, and connected them with a flimsy device they call a plot. Odd, because Noyce knows is no amateur when it comes to organic action sequences (he directed big screen adaptations of Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger). In this cat and mouse thriller, Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent whose accused of being a Russian spy. Immediately following the accusation, Salt goes rogue and faster than you can say The Fugitive, government officials (including Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor) are quickly on her trail. Again, Salt moves a quick clip. No one in their right mind could call this movie boring, but there isn't anything particularly fresh about it either.

Jolie--stepping into a role that was initially written for a man--is tough and physically up to the challenge, but she lacks the empathy needed to really make this a character worth rooting for. Liev Schreiber is terrific as a government official whose torn between his loyalty to Salt and the office forcing him to chase her down. A charismatic Ejiofor is saddled with the underwritten role of the head of the agency sent to bring Salt in. He's given even less to do here then in last year's 2012. At least he brings intensity and conviction to the part. Salt reminded me a little of Roger Donaldson's masterful 80's thriller No Way Out only with a lot less drama. I suppose I was just hoping for a little bit more than a cut to the chase movie. In the end though, what aggravated most about Salt, was the sequel ready ending. It made the proceedings feel more like a set up for Salt 2 rather than a stand alone movie.

Grade: C+