Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking.
Directed by Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin, Wicker Park)
Starring Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, and Djimon Hounsou
Push was great… well pushing the skip button on my remote was great.
O.K., here’s the deal, Nick Gant (Chris Evans), is a second-generation “mover” (he can move objects with his mind), who has been in hiding since “Division” murdered his father more than a decade earlier. Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning), is a 13-year-old “watcher” (she can see the future) who needs Nick’s help to help Kira, (Camilla Belle), an escaped “pusher” (she can make people do anything she wants them to do). She also may hold the key to bringing down Agent Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou) and the entire “Division.”
Did you get all that? Honestly even if you didn’t, it doesn’t matter… Push is about one thing… Special Effects. I love special effects as much as the next movie geek, but give me characters I care about or a story I can (and want to) follow. I really enjoyed Lucky Number Slevin, but director Paul McGuigan swung and missed with this one.
There’s not a whole lot left to say. The story is difficult to follow, the characters are completely underdeveloped and even the actors seem to know that this one is a coaster.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Nick and Kira’s relationship takes the typical turns… some kissing and groping before the camera leaves the room. Later we see the two of them in bed together… sleeping and fully clothed.
The biggest surprise was Dakota Fanning who wears a short skirt throughout the film. In one scene she gets drunk and uses some pretty harsh language.
I say let the kids skip this one.
Side Note:
As said above, we don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
