New movie 'American Ultra' breaks the mold of action-comedy genre

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The hard to categorize movie, "American Ultra," joins the end of summer box office race.

Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart star in the fast-paced film. Eisenberg plays an unmotivated stoner and convenience store clerk. What he doesn't know is that he's actually an elite killing machine trained by the CIA.

Stewart plays his loyal -- but equally in the dark -- girlfriend.

"Nashville" star Connie Britton plays the top agent who created the secret program that trained him. While she's trying to protect her pet project, Topher Grace comes in as another agent who wants to destroy it all. Both actors say the movie is hard to peg.

"It starts one way, where I thought, oh this is a very sweet, kind of stoner, romantic comedy," said Grace. "Maybe like an indie film, then kinda this 'Bourne,' like an element of the 'Bourne' movies becomes a part of it, and then it just keeps multiplying."

"It takes several genres with which we're more familiar and kind of mashes them together," said Britton. "So it creates something that feels very unique and really funny."

"It's not a sequel, it's not a reboot, it's not a remake," said Grace. "It's a summer movie, and it's actually original."

Britton agreed, adding, "Even better, it has a stoned superhero, and isn't that what we're all looking for, really? Yes. The answer is yes!"

"American Ultra" is rated R and is in theaters on Friday.