'Push' Movie Review

Article originally published 01/20/2009 at geekinthecity.com

Sometime around Christmas I received a package in the mail from Summit Entertainment. Generally, an unsolicited parcel from a movie studio would immediately incite glee in my geek heart. However, when I examined the contents of the oversized envelope that lay sprawled across my kitchen table, I understood Summit’s true intent. This was homework. Enclosed was a letter heralding the release of ‘Push’, the studio’s venture into the world of superhero cinema. Along with the letter came the first issue of the Wildstorm comic book which serves as a prequel to the film and an eight-page document (reportedly summarized from a 25 page ‘bible’) by screenwriter David Bourla titled *Push: Notes of the Universe*. As I browsed through this material, I realized that Bourla’s universe was as complex as it was familiar and to bring it to life in the confines of a 111 minute film would be no small undertaking…

In the first few minutes of ‘Push’, we are given a briefing Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning) on all the characters in the film, their uncanny abilities and history on how they came to be. This exposition, while certainly required to understand the film, is presented in such a cursory manner that it has no more impact on the audience than an in-flight instruction on what to do in the event of a water landing. For a universe as rich as the one that exists in this ‘Push’, you’d think that director Paul McGuigan would want to take more care than just presenting both heroes and villains in a hurried piece of exposition. Instead, we are briefly shown glimpses of members of the Division, a shadowy government agency whose sole purpose seems to be the unending pursuit of its escaped test subjects. Among their targets are Movers - who have telekinetic abilities, Pushers - who can psychically implant false thoughts or memories and Watchers - who are able to view glimpses of the future. As the film trudges forward, it becomes obvious that the Division views this group of clairvoyant youngsters more as property than proteges. Once this is established, there is little left for the audience to do than sit back and wonder how McGuigan and Bourla intend to make a coherent story out of this jumbled mess of macguffins, nebulous plot points and directionless characters.

Despite the film’s mess of a plotline, ‘Push’ actually does feature some decent performances from its cast of relatively unknown actors. Dakota Fanning (competing against herself during the film’s opening weekend) does a fine job as Cassie, a Watcher who’s sole purpose is to free her mother from the captivity of the Division. Chris Evans, whose turn as Johnny Storm was the only decent part of the ‘Fantastic Four’ movies, takes a lead role as a Mover named Nick Gant. Nick and Cassie spend most of the film together, inserting some rather surreal buddy-cop moments into the story. This was a tad creepy at first, but as the film ended they were the only two characters that gave you the sense that they actually accomplished something. Some of the better moments in ‘Push’ were any time that kiwi character-actor Cliff Curtis was onscreen. Curtis’ role as Hook Waters, a Shifter who could bend light beams to create illusions, felt as if it was lifted directly from the pages of a crime noir drama. Waters is an ex-FBI agent and is always seen with a martini in his hand and a woman on his arm. Curtis’ take on the coolest-guy-in-the-room may not be original, but its pretty damn fun to watch.

If Bourla had his druthers, I expect that he would have preferred that the ‘Push’ universe been laid out in a series of comics or novels far before this film was ever produced. He clearly has a passion for not only the mechanics of how each characters’ abilities work, but also how they rely on each other to survive. I’d buy those books and read them with fervor, as I could see through the course of the film that there was so much more that Bourla wanted to tell. Hopefully he’ll get the chance (you listening Wildstorm?) but until then, this film will have to suffice as a rushed introduction to his complex universe. So, if you are a fan of ‘real-world’ takes on the superhero genre, give ‘Push’ a try. Just remember to do your homework.