I went to see “Push” Monday. A 19:25 showing, there were about a dozen people.
The following review includes some plot spoilers.
“Push” does fill the gap left by the disappointing “Heroes.” Shot in Hong Kong, I don’t think I have seen a movie that film so much on location since “Lost in Translation.” I will like “Push” even more if it is a yearly series. For example, in the next chapter I would like to see the Chinese directly confront the American government instead of using a proxy. Waiting three years or more will be bad.
In this world since Nazi experimentation on people with powers the governments of the world have tried to weaponize these people. Naturally, someone with powers can affect one or two people at a time. This is not enough to control the world so the US, for example, injects people with a formula to bring the power up to a large scale combat level.
The movie opens with a girl giving the story-so-far. Then another girl escapes from a lab after receiving one of the injections of formula and taking another shot with her. She is helped by someone I call The Puppeteer.
Chris Evan’s character, Nick, is in Hong Kong. Trying to keep a low profile. Flashback to his father will bring a wry smile to “4400″ fans (ah, is that what would happen if he took the shot). Nick’s mover power is weak, on the run he has not been able to exercise it well on his own.
Enter Dakota Fanning as Cassie, if Fanning is ten she looks fine. If she is fourteen then she is malnourished. She has a plan that will take the US Division out. Division have two man teams of peoples with the same power. That seems strange, a mix would be better, no? Maybe two of a kind mesh better?
Anyways, the main villain of the story is Carver. He is mental pusher teamed up with a blond mover.
The girl who escaped is Kira and Nick and Cassie help her. There is a complicated world full of different powers (three or four variations on scrying) and how government will leave someone alone or use someone in a division until they burn out.
Kira had her mind wiped of recent memories so it would be hard for watchers like Cassie and those patriots working for the Americans and Chinese to track her and the reminding shot.
Who is pushing who?
“Push” is a hide-and-seek while finding-the-McGuffin movie instead of a chase and action movie. Out smarting the enemy is how to play the game instead of miraculously getting good with power and beating the bad guys. The audience does not get a happy ending, but one that balances out crushing depression about the world and just surviving for another day.
I worry how well “Push” is doing at the box office. Runs about 1:50.
David
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