The Bourne Legacy

He has been searching for his true identity for years. Now Jason Bourne is chasing moviegoers’ money.

The lead character in the series of thrillers that began with The Bourne Identity a decade ago is nowhere to be found in this ill-conceived fourth installment, known as The Bourne Legacy. But at the filmmakers’ insistence, his fingerprints are all over it.

After three films as Bourne, star Matt Damon has moved on. So has director Paul Greengrass (United 93), and there are no more Robert Ludlum books to adapt. So screenwriter Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), who has written the scripts for all of the Bourne movies, takes the directing reins for a fourth episode, starring a new character, that’s related more by subject matter than story.

That’s how you can tell that this sequel is little more than a cash grab. It’s really a separate entity in which the narrative connections to the first three films feel forced when it probably would have just stood better on its own. But alas, then it wouldn’t have contained the Bourne name with all of its clout on the box-office marquee.

Anyway, the film chronicles a new assassin, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), who trains in the Alaskan wilderness and springs into action as a result of events linked to the previous film. Specifically, Cross tries to evade the attempts of corrupt CIA officials who want him dead.

Meanwhile, his mission becomes to track down a powerful medication from a pharmaceutical company that is riddled with criminal influence, despite the presence of a well-meaning researcher (Rachel Weisz) who once treated Cross and becomes his ally after escaping an act of horrific violence.

The film is visually striking, yet Gilroy dials down the quantity of the action sequences from the first three films, with fewer hand-to-hand combat episodes, in favor of a more cerebral approach.

Renner (The Hurt Locker) is a rising star who lacks the mainstream action-hero appeal of Damon. There are a few exciting sequences, including a riveting climactic chase scene through the crowded streets of Manila. But getting there requires the endurance of a convoluted story that feels more like recycled goods than a fresh start.

There are always more international spy stories to be found, so whether the series continues on the big screen beyond this only depends on whether audiences still care.

Rated PG-13, 135 minutes.