Matt Damon is taking a break from acting

After a Matt Damon-less fourth entry in the franchise fizzled at the box office, Universal has brought Damon and the franchise’s shaky-cam director back for a fifth. Much has been made of how few lines Damon has in this film, but pursuits, fights and vehicle chases are what fans expect from a Bourne film and Greengrass delivers all of that in spades. It’s bound to entertain fans of the franchise, but it’s definitely not the best.

But it’s been nine years since “The Bourne Ultimatum” put a nice little bow on the trilogy (with a less-than-successful Jeremy Renner reboot stuck in there somewhere) and now all the principals have returned, same formula attached, to give us “Jason Bourne”.

While Matt, 45, developed his poker playing abilities when he was preparing to star in 1998 movie “Rounders”, he admitted he can not compare to his good friend Ben, 43, who was banned from playing blackjack at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in 2014 after his ability to count cards was discovered.

The script which was co-written by director Greengrass and Christopher Rouse (the film editor for “The Bourne Supremacy” and “The Bourne Ultimatum”) naturally features lots of action. Alicia Vikander is a Central Intelligence Agency officer who is constantly playing all sides of the field, for reasons that are hard to place. “I really do enjoy those stunts, but I have to watch out”.

No one’s motivations are clear-cut and it’s fair to say no one can be trusted. I had never done anything close to an action movie before The Bourne Identity. That may not be the case, but that’s just how it comes off, with the feel of a product, as opposed to an organic idea for a Bourne sequel. But although Matt Damon is still very likeable as the title character, and despite the fact the filmmakers tried to inject more current themes like internet privacy and government surveillance, “Jason Bourne” has a feeling of “been there, done that”. “You have to look like you’ve suffered, and the only way to do that is to suffer, ‘” Damon recalled.

However, if the Martian star isn’t allowed to tag his family along with him, he will only accept the role if it’s guaranteed he can return home after two weeks of shooting.

Well, that’s disappointing. Though a small detail, it speaks volumes about “Jason Bourne”, a ho-hum entry in a once-electrifying espionage franchise. The choice is yours…

Ato Essandoh (as Craig Jeffers): “Jesus Christ, that’s Jason Bourne”.