Push (2009) mini review

superhero film not based on a comic

[7/10]

So, technically, it's not a superhero film - but it is a film about people with powers. When I saw the previews for Push, it seemed very reminiscent of the show Heroes, but as I sat in the theater absorbing the film, it didn't remind me of Heroes at all. 

A government organization called The Division is continuing experiments on psychics started by the Nazis in World War II, trying to develop people's psychic abilities and turn them into weapons.  Those who have telekenetic abilities are called Movers; people that can see the future are called Watchers; people that can push their thoughts into your mind and make you see and believe thing that aren't real are called Pushers; you get the idea.  There are a lot more abilities in the film, but it's a lot more fun if you pick them up while you're watching.

The Division is looking for a Pusher named Kira (Camilla Bell) who recently escaped.  They want her back because they've injected her with a serum that multiplies her abilities, and she's the first to survive the process.  She gets some help from Nick (Chris Evans, upcoming Scott Pilgrim movie, Fantastic Four, 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer) and Cassie (Dakota Fanning - did you know she played a young Wonder Woman on Justice League once?). They're being chased by Division man Carver (Djimon Hounsou, Constantine, Blueberry), as well as a rival Hong Kong organization.

I thought the film was a fun ride. The way the abilities were handled was especially creative, and I think I enjoyed this part of the film best of all (and it helped me overlook other shortcomings).  If you can find yourself lost in the fun of mindless esapism, sometimes that's all you need to enjoy a movie. I especially like the telekinetic fist fight...but I won't spoil that for you either.

Keep in mind that this is not a film for deep analysis.  If you think too much about it, you can find a lot of parallels with Heroes, though, as I said before, it doesn't have the same feel.  Plus, if you try to analyze the story and plot, I think you'd find a lot of holes.  But as a "popcorn" movie - a movie you can just sit and enjoy, it's not too bad.

[Neil Jackson, who was Marcus in the Blade series playes a Mover who works for The Division. Ming-Na, who plays the Sniffer that helps Kira, Cassie, and Nick , also voiced Detective Yin on The Batman.]


See it if you can just sit and enjoy a movie for the fun of it.

Don't see it if you over-analyze films and look for plot holes.