Limitless stars Bradley Cooper as a writer whose life is a mess until he takes a new drug that lets him use the other 80% of his brain that we keep hearing none of us can access.

So now he whips out a sci-fi novel in a few days, learns new languages, is able to recall anything he’s ever heard or read and makes a killing in the stock market.

He’s even able to get back with his girlfriend (Abbie Cornish) who dumped him and start working for a financial wizard (Robert De Niro) and making multi-million dollar deals.

It sounds too good to be true, and, of course, it is. There is a price to be paid. His former brother-in-law, who provided the drug, turns up dead. The drug is not easily available, his mind starts doing strange things while in chemcially induced overdrive and what about that girl that was murdered that night that he can’t remember. There’s also a nasty Russian loan shark who keeps showing up.

Limitless often seems like a cautionary tale about the long-term evil of drug taking for short-term gain, but it is more than that. Cooper is a good lead character and is likable enough that we’re on his side. However, the ending is a cheat and several plot holes get glossed over. However, you can enjoy an entertaining trip as Cooper expands his brain.

Rating: three deer out of five

Next Week on Video

Fair Game is based on the true story of a female CIA agent outed by the Bush administration because of her outspoken husband.

Alf Cryderman is a Red Deer freelance writer and old movie buf