Push (Summit Entertainment)
Pushes You Right Out of the Theaters
Push is one of those movies that tries so hard to be different it just ends up being mundane. Giving each and every character a special talent such as being a mover, a pusher, a shadow, or a sniffer plus an assorted variety of other gifts does not a good movie make, when none of the actions make any sense.
The film takes place in Hong Kong where Nick Gant (Chris Evans) is living. He is the son of a man who was killed by the Division and now the Division is hunting him down. A young girl named Cassie (Dakota Fanning) shows up to offer her help. She can see the future and also sometimes help change the future. She keeps seeing herself and Nick dead.
The whole movie is one long chase with Nick and Cassie being pursued by Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou) of the Division. He employs a group who can actually scream you to death. At times I felt the movie was screaming me to death.
Then there is Kira Hudson (Camilla Belle). She too is on the run from the Division, and eventually she meets up with Nick and Cassie. She is trying to find her mother but that is never resolved in the film.
Evans makes an anemic looking hero. He is scrawny and not particularly good looking in this film. Also he seems to have lost the sense of humor he had as the fire guy in The Fantastic Four. Believe me this movie could have used some humor.
Belle was impressive in the film 10,000 BC. She looked gorgeous and displayed some acting talent. She doesnt look that great in this movie and seems to be just walking through her role. As for chemistry with Evans, it is less than zero.
As for Fanning, well this is not her finest hour. As the psychically charged Cassie she gets to swear and drink. I am not ready for that change in her persona. She should still be playing with dolls as far as I am concerned.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
There have been movies with telekinesis and other special gifts as a theme and they have been fine, but somehow this movie just wastes whatever specialness the subject matter brings. It is too long, too ordinary, and too overdone.
I scored Push a shoved 3 out of 10.
