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| Abbie Cornish |
So imagine what would happen if someone discovered a pill that unlocked its maximum potential.
Politicians could solve wars at a stroke. Artists could churn out a masterpiece a week. Jordan could tie her shoelaces.
This is the concept behind Limitless - an enjoyably dumb action thriller about what it's like to suddenly become very, very clever.
Bradley Cooper stars as Eddie Morra, a deadbeat author who's been struggling with his new book for months. Then a pal offers him a sample of a new pill called NZT, which he promises will get his mind working at full capacity.
It does, of course - so he uses his new-found megabrain to knock out a bestseller at top speed.
Then he uses the money to jack in the writing game, play the stockmarket and become a Maserati-driving, sharp suit-wearing, supermodel-bedding playberk.
Just like, in honesty, we all would.
The concept behind Limitless is so good (it's comes from a novel called The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn) that there's a huge amount of fun to be had in just seeing it play out - even before a shadowy tycoon played by Robert De Niro comes into the picture, plotting to use Eddie's powers for evil ends.
As well as its exciting, often tense storyline, Limitless also has an unexpected sense of humour.
The film might struggle with Cooper in the lead role (he's not exactly guaranteed box office) but as his top turns in The A-Team and The Hangover have already proved, he's the perfect mix of alpha male smugness and genuine likeability.
Director Neil Burger has come up with great ways to illustrate Eddie's sharpened wits on screen, too.
Colours brighten, focus sharpens, the editing picks up pace and Cooper's blue eyes glow brighter than a raspberry ice pop.
You almost feel yourself getting smarter as you watch. Remember how you felt sitting through Transformers 2? Kind of the opposite of that.
Sources: http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk
