I have to admit, it's fun to watch Angelina Jolie punch people. And Jolie is at her action hero-y best in "Salt," playing a woman who may or may not be a CIA operative, a Russian terrorist, a loving wife, a blonde or a brunette.

The story? Does it really matter? As with most action movies nowadays, it's unbelievably, unnecessarily complicated. Evelyn Salt (Jolie) is captured by the North Koreans and tortured for two years but finally freed by her loving husband, a German who's a specialist in North Korean insects. (Huh?!) Fast forward a couple of years. A Russian spy decides to tell our government all he knows about a plot against the U.S. Get this. It involves a double-agent named Evelyn Salt. Well, Jolie freaks, of course, and frets about the safety of her husband while blowing up everything in sight, punching people, and jumping from the roofs of various fast-moving vehicles. And Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor are chasing her all the while.

These are three very good, very smart actors. The action is fast-paced and not soooo hand-held that you're queasy from watching. Jolie's character seems to think out her choices, suffer the consequences of her jumps and punches, and she actually tries to change her appearance, seeing as how she's running for her life. I know these three things seem like no-brainers, but I'm stunned at how many action flicks don't feel any of them are necessary.

If you want a brilliant piece of writing, look elsewhere. But, if you want to see a gorgeous woman kicking butt, this will live up to those expectations.