Push (2009, Summit Entertainment)
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It’s obvious that the makers of the film Push thought they had a winner on their hands because, with an ending that left several loose ends, they set up everything for a sequel. Alas, writer David Bourla and director Paul McGuigan got ahead of themselves and failed to make sure their film was good enough to merit a follow-up. Moreover, by blatantly catering to a younger crowd, they actually dumbed down what could have been a fun thrill ride of a movie. Push has a cool premise, some gnarly effects, memorable images of screaming Chinese mutants, and some pretty actors to look at — but it’s lacking in many aspects: its dialogue, the direction of the actors, and a little discretion in how Dakota Fanning was filmed, to name a few. When all is said and done, despite the merits of the film, Push just isn’t a great movie.

Chris Evans (the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies) is a part of new breed of human beings. The film doesn’t come right out and say mutants because I’m sure they didn’t want to draw comparisons to the X-Men, but that’s what these people are. Evans’s “Nick” is a “mover,” meaning he has the ability to move objects with his mind. He’s living as an expatriate in Hong Kong, trying to stay out of the clutches of a shadowy U.S. government branch called “Division.” Division kidnaps these special humans and is injecting them with a serum they hope will augment their powers to make them a superhuman weapon. No one has survived, except one. Her name is Kira (Camille Belle) and she is a Pusher. (more…)