In Popcornia, VT, home of FC HQ, we sometimes excitedly gather to discuss pictures that aim to simply toss us around for a couple of hours. American Assassin isn’t searching for identity, supremacy or ultimatum; only to keep your attention level, and respiratory rate, high. And in that regard, this film is solid.

This version of Mike Keaton, a brazen cocktail of many prior roles is, as a whole, the likes of which we haven’t seen. With his chiseled exterior and special ops moxie, Stan Hurley (Keaton) grips our attention as the obvious, and not-so-obvious, twists unfold. He begs us to trust him, despise him and favor him and we fall in line with all three. Mitch Rapp (O’Brien) is a balloon of focused rage after tragedy befalls. True to form, his picaroon style snoops around the world to wherever revenge could be had and displays a charming propensity for disobedience at each intersection.

As it progresses, the story noticeably trips over itself but not enough to ruin the film; only to recognize that four screenwriters were bumbling around the movie. American Assassin cannot track down that elusive third whole napkin, coming in at 2.97 out of 5.