PUSH Movie Review

When I first heard about PUSH, I wasn't sure what to expect.  The idea for the movie caught me off guard as I had only heard about it a couple months ago.  I had some high hopes for this in that it could help pave the way for more superhero-ish type movies that aren't necessarily tied to an existing comic book.  As the movie's release came closer, I started having some doubts.  I even decided not to see the movie the day it came out out of fear of being disappointed.

The biggest obstacle this movie will be facing is it almost seems too ambitious for its own good.  There are several different types of "powers" that individuals can have in this movie.  For a list of those powers and description, it may be easier to read the CONCEPT page for the movie.  It helps to understand some of what can be done. 

Watching this movie, you feel like you've been hit by a "Wiper," an individual that can temporarily or permanently wipe your memory.  There's almost a haze as you try to follow everything that is going on and has been going on.  We do get a little history lesson on the Division, the government group harvesting those with the special abilities for their own means (that information is also found on the concept page).

The premise of the movie involves a high ranking member of the Division, Agent Henry Carver (played by Djimon Hounsou) trying to retrieve a woman, Kira (played by Camilla Belle), who survived a test drug meant to augment her powers and escaped the facilities.  A young teen, Cassie (played by Dakota Fanning), who is a Watcher, seeks out Nick (Chris Evans) in Hong Kong to save the woman and find the drug that can take down the Division and also save Cassie's mother.  Nick, himself, escaped the Division's grasp ten years earlier after his father was killed. 

My first question is why Hong Kong?  Maybe it was a place for Nick to hide and have his own life.  How Cassie manages to arrive in Hong Kong is not mentioned.  Conveniently during their quest, Nick happens to have lots of connections to other powered individuals (some former Division agents) that happen to be residing in Hong Kong as well.  It's clear that trying to run from a Watcher is a difficult thing, but you would think the characters might try to blend in.  Cassie's character has a rather...interesting choice of wardrobe.  I suppose if your mother is locked away in a secret government facility, there's no one there to advise you on fashion.

Another gripe is when two "Sniffers" arrive asking Nick questions in trying to find Kira.  A sniffer has the ability to read the history of an item, such as what went on around it, by...sniffing the object.  This isn't fully explained and could seem a little odd if you hadn't read the prequel comic book by Wildstorm.  These sniffers investigate without any back up.  You would think the Division would send more than just a couple of sniffers with guns.  Maybe sending just one sniffer along with someone that has more offensive and defensive powers would have been a better idea.

The quality of the effects used in the movie varied.  When the "Bleeders" let out their brain-melting screams (which causes bleeding from your ears and nose), the results were pretty cool yet the actual screamers look a bit funny.  Imagine someone opening their mouth as wide as they can and just screaming.  When "Movers" use their telekinesis to move objects, it almost looks like said object is being lifted by an invisible string.  Perhaps the jerky movement was meant to illustrate that Nick wasn't a trained mover.  He does seem to learn rather quickly as the movie progresses.  When movers use their powers to block and deflect bullets, there is a cool ripple effect but sometimes it seems too animated. 

Surprisingly with all the powered characters in the movie, we don't see any Phasers, Shifters, Porters or Changers.  In the comic it's mentioned that some of those abilities are more rare so maybe that's the reason.  It could have helped to make things easier for Hounsou's character.  If this mission was so vital to the survival of the Division, you would think they would send in every trained agent they could to retrieve Belle and the drug.

The filmmakers tried taking a stylized approach at times.  We get some different camera filters and an interesting use of music to try to enhance the movie.  I did not like the cheesey music when the start of a (toned down) love scene comes on. 

With all these gripes, it's still not a bad movie.  I was entertained for the most part.  There did seem to be too much going on even though the basic premise wasn't that complicated.  The concept of the "evil" government agency hunting down the oppressed lead characters isn't anything new.  The delivery was decent.  The effects were a little hit-or-miss at times but overall worked (seeing Chris Evans as a human pinball machine was fun).  I don't think we really needed the feelings of affection between two of the characters and the convenience of all the help Evans' character was able to get just felt too forced.  It's a good movie to pass the time as long as you don't have too high of expectations.  I applaud the filmmakers for taking a chance and trying to create a new universe of characters.  I would like to see more "new" ideas being made rather than Hollywood simply relying on the same old comic book franchises.

I give the movie a 3 out of 5.  It could have been better.  The evil government agency was a little cliché.  The abundance of powers introduced (yet not all used) could be a little much for some.  It's not a bad movie but not one that you would need to run out and see right away.  It is worth seeing, perhaps as a rental.