Reviewed by Michael Edwards
Stars Chris Evans, Camilla Belle, Colin Ford, Dakota Fanning,
Joel Gretsch, Djimon Hounsou, Neil Jackson,
Robert Tsonos, Brandon Rhea, Corey Stoll
Written by David Bourla
Certification UK 12A | US PG-13
Runtime 111 minutes
Directed by Paul McGuigan
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if people mutated? Well, the answer has been posited on the big screen now. Actually, it was posited a while ago by X-Men. But what if the mutations were man-made? OK, so that's been done too. But man-made, by Nazis, with several predictable outcomes? This amazing, highly original scenario is the premise for Push.
Chris Evans, whose earlier role in the Fantastic Four sets alarm bells ringing before a poster is even sighted, plays the main mutant. His skill is a kind of telekinesis. At the start of the film he can't even move a dice, but then Dakota Fanning, who can see the future, shows up. Her appearance fulfills a prophecy foretold by Chris's Dad, who was killed by an evil agency that wants to harness their power, and so he does whatever she says. And at some point for no apparent reason he is suddenly amazing at moving stuff. Their mission seems to be defeat the evil agency, but it is left partially uncovered because of the misguided belief that this film might deserve a sequel.
The array of mutants on show is fairly humdrum. There are 'sniffers' who smell objects and discern the lives of those who use/touch them, these telekinetic guys, 'pushers' who make people do what they want and also some guys who can shout really loud, in fact so loud that things smash. Fish also explode, which is perhaps the only good thing in the film. The most bizarre thing in the film, though, is the soundtrack. Inexplicably pumping drum and bass/techno at the most inopportune moments, the film is scored by someone who also realised how badly scripted, paced and generally put together this film is.
Thus concludes my lacklustre review for a lacklustre film. I hope you appreciated the irony rather than just assuming I'm lazy!