This September’s “Eagle Eye” may have taken pointers from the 1998 film “Enemy of the State,” but director D.J. Caruso manages to separate his paranoid actioner from being a carbon copy of the Will Smith thriller.

The story of “Eagle Eye” follows Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf), an inept slacker who has been living in the shadow of his successful twin brother, Ethan. When his brother suddenly dies, Jerry must discover secrets Ethan had not disclosed to him. Single mother Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan), is initially thrust into the twisting plot because her son’s life is in danger. What both characters eventually realize is that the United States government has created a super computer that has malfunctioned, and they must stop it before it’s too late.

Although the plot treads the familiar line of political propaganda and Big Brother-like suspicion, “Eagle Eye” does a great job at keeping the attention on the interaction of the characters while creating tense action sequences.

Furthermore, “Eagle Eye” takes some of the technology savvy aspects of “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and successfully applies it to its own cause. Cell phones randomly ring, supposedly unmanned vehicles show up to zip characters away to their next unknown destination, and fighter planes launch heat-seeking rockets at unsuspecting victims without being piloted.

Even with the borrowed elements of the story line, LaBeouf and Monaghan allow the audience to relate to the characters. Moreover, both actors give each other room to breathe, even while being chased by an army of FBI agents. Other familiar faces include A-listers like: Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis and an expectedly sarcastic Billy Bob Thornton.

Caruso’s film is enjoyable without having to heave unnecessary, sappy love scenes onto the audience – and that’s something that I’m sure any moviegoer will appreciate. “Eagle Eye” combines every good asset of an action movie while even managing to invoke some good laughs. The pacing of the film doesn’t feel rushed, and there are scenes that delve deeper into the development of the characters – something seldom seen in big budget action movies.

Perhaps this film should have been slated for an end of summer release, because it contains everything moviegoers have come to expect in a big summer blockbuster. While Caruso’s film definitely doesn’t measure up with the likes of “The Dark Knight” or even “Iron Man,” it is fun and cohesive enough to be enjoyed without hurting your brain too much. If edge-of-your-seat action, big explosions and vehicles smashing into each other are what you dig in movies, then “Eagle Eye” is worth your money.