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Movie Maven: 'Lucy'

  Play Now [5:17]

by Stephanie Curtis

July 25, 2014

scarlett johansson lucy
Scarlett Johansson stars in 'Lucy', a film directed by Luc Besson.
Universal Pictures

MPR's Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis joins Mary Lucia and Bob Collins (in for Steve Seel and Jill Riley) to talk about a new science-fiction film starring Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman. The film is directed by Luc Besson.

Lucy is set in modern-day Shanghai; Johansson plays a normal person who gets into trouble and ends up transforming into a person capable of using much more of her brain's capacity than is accepted as normal.

Stephanie says the early part of the film is filled with tension and leaves you rattled. Johansson's character is completely unsentimental, merciless and on a mission to survive. Then, Stephanie says, the film goes off the rails; a typical sci-fi movie sets up the rules of its universe, but Lucy breaks its own rules.

Stephanie was ultimately disappointed, but thinks Lucy may make something fun to watch at home on DVD or via streaming media.

Listen to the audio above to hear Stephanie's full review.

Lucy is rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and sexuality. It is playing at theaters everywhere.

Have you seen the film? What do you think of it? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

MPR's Movie Maven, Stephanie Curtis, joins The Current's Morning Show to talk about films every Friday at 8:30 a.m.