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Like Elizabeth Taylor in the late 1960s, Angelina Jolie has allowed her glamorous personal life to overshadow her professional film career. It's hard to believe that the actress is 10 years removed from winning an Oscar for "Girl, Interrupted."

Under the capable hands of director Phillip Noyce ("Patriot Games"), Jolie returns to the action arena she conquered with "Tomb Raider." "Salt" is an unabashed reboot of the anti-communist flicks ("Rocky IV," "The Hunt for Red October," et al.) that flooded theaters near the end of the Cold War. At its center is a back story involving a Soviet spy contingency in which Russian children are raised from birth to act like Americans so they can carry out missions later in life. The idea is interesting, and vaguely timely given the recent Russian sleeper spy scandal, until Lee Harvey Oswald's name is dropped as one of the program's star pupils. If you can look past the absurdity, the film is enjoyable.

Two years after leaving a North Korean prison, CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Jolie, "Changeling") interrogates a Russian spy who insists that the Russian president will soon be assassinated in New York. What's more, he accuses Salt of having a role in the plot. She denies the claim, but escapes through the geographically inaccurate streets of Washington, D.C. Her only ally is Agent Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber, "Repo Men").

Writer Kurt Wimmer leaves the audience to figure out whether she is working for Russia, the United States or both. Throughout the film, her main motivation is ensuring the safety of her husband (August Diehl, "Inglourious Basterds").

Apart from a handful of unnecessary flashbacks, "Salt" sticks mostly to the action. It's basically one elaborate chase scene. Studios have learned from the "Bourne" series that modern attention spans can't handle too much dialogue within action movies. And the Matt Damon vehicles are what "Salt" most closely resembles. What sets the "Bourne" movies apart is a likeable protagonist. Jason Bourne has a soft side and is easy to root for. Given Salt's ambiguous allegiance, it's hard to decide to cheer her escapes or hope she finally goes down.

The trick with this kind of movie is creating a story that is far-fetched but still feasible. The goofy spy plot takes a backseat to the chase sequences. After a while, all the double-crossing and identity twists don't matter. The only thing to look forward to is Salt's plunge onto a passing semi truck, but even then, Noyce applies moderation. While they stretch the limits of reality, they aren't "Die Hard" ridiculous. Salt jumps off walls, makes explosives out of cleaning products and precisely executes every threat that comes her way.

Despite the violence, Jolie appears determined to be taken seriously as an actress. Long gone is the bust-enhancing "Tomb Raider" costume. Except for a brief underwear scene and a pair of panties that block a security camera, the character dons modest clothing and disguises. Serious is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't mean Jolie is good for the part. After the initial chase sequence, it's clear Jolie is suited to the role, and teh supporting cast does an excellent job of backing her up.

Schreiber's southern drawl is a welcome contrast to the robotic barking most of the other characters fall into. Agents Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor, "2012") and the Secretary of Defense (Andre Braugher, "The Mist") impersonate every angry federal agent who has dealt with a crisis on screen.

"Salt" is a story that's perfect for a time when the U.S. is uncertain about its place in the world. The mixture of anti-American sentiments and shameless patriotism somehow blend together. Whether the film will return action to Jolie's career (and turn into a franchise) is yet to be seen. Either way, it's a solid start.

Salt

Rated PG-13. 100 minutes.

Action/Thriller.

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl, Daniel Pearce, Hunt Block, Andre Braugher, Olek Krupa.

Director: Phillip Noyce.