There are plenty of references to Jason Bourne. We see him in photos . He’s blamed for the  scenario our new hero confronts  but seriously,  without Matt Damon, this is no “Bourne” flick.   It’s a a new spy franchise for Jeremey Renner and Rachel Weisz.

Jerermy Renner is Aaron Cross, part of  a medically-created cadre of super-spies. When we’re first introduced to him, he outdoes Bear Grylls in survivor skills . And he has a charming curiosity , which he quickly looses once he finds himself in a life and death.  Rachel Weisz is a scientist  who helped  create and maintain our super-spies.  Cross miraculously shows up to save her when she realizes  she’s in  the same life or death.   She’s actually at the center of  a love triangle  but the love angle is fleeting since there’s barely any back story for any of our characters. Thus- we have no real emotional  connection .

There’s plenty of  tension – the kind that can put your stomach in a knot  but  there’s more tension than action.  The climactic , and obligatory,  chase  scene  goes on way too long.   In fact,  the movie is about 25 minutes too long.

There’s no 3-d, thankfully. The scenery is stunning, especially in the opening scenes. Jeremy Renner and Weisz are  great together but  the ending is  ridiculous, considering the circumstances. It does leave the door wide open for another  born-again “Bourne”. Honestly,  unless Matt Damon  comes back, they gotta dump the “Bourne” thing.  They can  get just as creative with the name Cross. Double Cross. Iron cross. Cross-fire. Cross-over. Holy cross. Cross-fit. Cross-train. Just sayin’!!

2-and-a-half stars