With its high-profile cast and elaborate special effects, “Inception” has all the makings of a summer blockbuster.  But it also seems its critical success is as promising as its commercial success.

At present, “Inception” holds a 9.6 out of 10 on IMDb, and critics have feverishly tweeted their ovation for the Christopher Nolan film.  Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has assigned the film an 89% approval rating — the site says it’s “Smart, innovative, and thrilling… a rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually.”

The surreal drama is the latest in Leonardo DiCaprio’s growing list of “serious” roles.  It’s an M.O. that’s served him well, having found success with “The Departed,” “Blood Diamond” and most recently, “Shutter Island.”

“There are very few directors in this industry who would pitch to a studio a multi-layered, almost at times existential, high action, high-drama, surreal film like ‘Inception,’” DiCaprio says.  “But if you’ve seen Chris’s past work in ‘Memento’ and ‘Insomnia,’ you know he’s able to portray these highly condensed, highly complicated plot structures and give them emotional weight.”

“Inception” opens on Friday.