2 ½/5

It's hard to believe that four years ago Jeremy Renner was a character actor working through small roles, trying

desperately to achieve A-list status. His career post-Oscar nomination for The Hurt Locker has deservedly paid

off; now with his first blockbuster lead role in action thriller The Bourne Legacy. His talent however far succeeds

the material here as this latest installment in the Bourne franchise is a missed opportunity.

Continuing the dislodging of covert operations Treadstone and Blackbriar at the conclusion of The Bourne

Ultimatum, Jason Bourne's actions have set off a deadly turn of events for everyone involved in the programs.

The CIA however fails to stop Aaron Cross (Renner) from acquiring the strength, agility and intelligence needed

to escape his handlers while covering his tracks. His actions collide with Dr. Martha Shearing (Rachel Weisz),

a scientist with knowledge of his much needed resources. The unlocking of his genetic biology will hopefully

find them an escape from the special forces hunting them across the globe.

This installment shares many flaws with the similarly underwhelming and overrated original, The Bourne

Identity. Tony Gilroy (co-writer of the original trilogy, director of Duplicity and Michael Clayton) replaces action

with political intrigue; removing the distinct thrills and tight pacing of The Bourne Supremacy and Ultimatum.

The loss of Paul Greengrass' kinetic, claustrophobic style loses the quick pacing, energetic action-set pieces

tension filled storytelling needed for a post-9/11 thrill ride. Legacy is unevenly paced, with a dull narrative

and multiple elements unimaginatively taken from previous installments. The film skirts between reality

and implausibility, with tracking from CIA and FBI headquarters stretching credibility and interest, while

scarcely providing a threatening antagonist.

Action is sparse here, with time spent mostly on the blowout from Jason Bourne's controversial actions.

Unfortunately, this provides nothing but confusing exposition and small appearances from characters important

to the original trilogy. It's an unnecessary installment, only expanding this universe of covert agents around the

globe to a small extent. Knowledge of the previous trilogy is important, with the Bourne scandal uncleanly

presented in this story of political betrayal in the face of a post-9/11 media-based democracy. When the action

does kick in, it delivers a much needed boost to proceedings. the quick cuts, brutal hand-to-hand fight sequences

and motor cycle chases, though derivative of previous installments, establish the importance of this series in

the genre. While the science lab shootout is chillingly effective for this gritty survival story.

The heavily debated issue was how Renner was going to successfully takeover the series without Matt Damon

or the titular character. He continues his impressive string of performances here with the same intensity

brought to similar roles in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and The Avengers. Having already proven his

worth with both action and drama, his dialogue sequences with the likes of Oscar Isaac and Edward Norton,

as determined USAF handler Eric Byer, are electric, as his charisma, along with physical presence and

agility in his many fist fights and roof top chases, creates an impressionable lead actor. Rachel Weisz also

succeeds as the sympathetic victim and Cross' contact/aid, thankfully sporting a character with greater depth

than the other female characters in this series and providing some much needed emotional force for this

toned down installment.

Verdict: An occasionally thrilling yet underwhelming fourth installment.