Push or Be Pushed

I do love to go to movies. Sometimes it is more about the experience than it is the movie. I recently went to see Chris Evans star in a film entitled Push. In the dank theater with six other people, my brother and I enjoyed what easily could have been your stereotypical superhero flick. This one is just a little bit different from the rest.

Push revolves around two americans, Nick (Chris Evans and Cassie (Dakota Fanning), who happen to have powers trying to help bring down a shadowing government agency called Division that wants those with powers. They race through Hong Kong with the help of others with abilities in order to reach their ultimate goal.

Sounds like your stereotypical superhero movie. Not so much. What makes Push different is language, and Chris Evans. Director Paul McGuiran (Lucky Number Slevin) and writer David Bourla created a world unlike the comic book worlds one would expect. This world has real problems with real people. You are these people.

The filmakers used words like Movers (Telekinesis), Watchers (Premonitions), Shifters, Shadows, Sniffers and so on. Everyone is classified as something and there are some unusual powers. The Sniffers smell things and know where other people or things are. Shadows hide people or things from sniffers. Stitches heal. Shifters having the ability to change the molecular structure of anything. And everybody seems to know what everyone is while running away from Division. Dakota Fanning is especially good as a teenage Watcher who draws what she sees in a little black notebook. She has grown up but not enough for a couple seens she has with that short skirt of hers. Scary.

The real star of the film is Chris Evans though. This is not the Human Torch. This character is tortured and it shows. We start the film with him losing his father to Division and fast forward ten years to him hiding out in Hong Kong and trying to using his Mover's power to win at Craps. He fails as he is unpracticed. Chris Evans carries the film more with his eyes and actions than he does with his voice. Wish this Chris Evans would joins us more often than he does. He made me want to be a mover.

The film is completely set up for a sequel and I hope we get one as this one was throughly enjoyable. The atmosphere made it even better as a three year-old kept coming up to my brother and I and saying Hi. One minute he is next to me talking to me during the movie and then all of a sudden he is running to other side to talk to my brother. A kid who is truly not scared. I like the little things like that during movies. That is why I would never go to the theater by myself. It is usually the company you keep that truly tells you how good the movie is. Movies are always best watched in the company of others.

This is not a film that tries to be smarter than the people watching it. The filmmakers help you along but also don't make you feel dumb. It is an intricate plot with lots of movement. The visuals are great and Hong Kong is a beautiful city to watch on the big screen. Give Push a try whether it be in theater or on DVD and you will not be disappointed.

Editors Note : I have neglected this blog and have gotten behind on a self imposed deadline on my Iowa post. I will hopefully have that out in the next couple days. Renewed vigor is here. Rejoice.