Push Parent Guide
After endlessly watching these battling superheroes pit their powers against one another while average people become disposable tokens in the psychic warfare, the entertainment value wanes quickly.
Parent Movie Review
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Ever since Superman donned his red cape and Spider-man spun his first web, fictional characters with special powers have been a staple of films. But in the past, these crusaders, and others like them, employed those unique talents to save the world from imminent disaster.
In more recent times, these same superheroes have become conflicted beings, brooding over their roles or exposing the dark sides of their souls. Still other unique individuals like The Incredible Hulk have become pawns in the hands of secret government agencies whose goal is to manipulate their endowments for the agency’s gain.
In Push, an undercover organization known only as Division also plans to create a super soldier by hunting down people born with enhanced telekinetic, olfactory, visionary or shape shifting skills. Choosing the most gifted among them, they inject a potent radioactive serum into their bloodstreams, hoping to further augment their abilities. Unfortunately, only one of their subjects has survived the jab. And that one escapes.
On the run in the densely packed streets of Hong Kong, Kira Hudson (Camilla Belle) is sick and afraid. Yet she’s not necessarily happy to see her old boyfriend and a tag-a-long, teenaged clairvoyant who are also fugitives from Division. However, Nick (Chris Evans) and Cassie (Dakota Fanning) are thrilled to find Kira. According to one of Cassie’s visions, Kira has a secret case that will bring down Division and free Cassie’s imprisoned mother.
Unfortunately, Kira has had her mind wiped free of memories in order to save herself and the case from being tracked by mind readers. Relying on the help of other extraordinary expatriates, the trio searches for the hidden container. But with the director of Division (Djimon Hounsou) close on their heels, the race for the case turns bloody in a hurry.
Carnage and corpses litter this movie as pushers, those with the ability to force their thoughts into the minds of others, manipulate people into pulling the trigger on themselves or their friends. Bloody wounds are also prevalent as characters are kicked, punched, knocked from rooftops, impaled or otherwise killed. A father and his sons emit high-frequency screams that cause glass to break, ears to bleed and eventually the brain to explode. (It is gruesome, but so utterly ridiculous that most of the audience laughed during these scenes.)
In addition to the gory content, Cassie, dressed like an underage hooker, consumes a bottle of alcohol to enhance her ability to see the future (but instead ends up in a drunken stupor). A strong sexual expletive and numerous uses of scatological slang also pepper this script.
Billed as an action-packed, sci-fi thriller, Push contains plenty of physical skirmishes. However after endlessly watching these battling superheroes pit their powers against one another while average people become disposable tokens in the psychic warfare, the entertainment value wanes quickly. Given their extraordinary talents, it’s too bad these superheroes are so absorbed in their own quest for power that they forget to use their abilities for the good of others.
Starring Camilla Belle, Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans. Running time: 112 minutes. Theatrical release February 6, 2009. Updated July 25, 2016About author
Push
Rating & Content Info
Why is Push rated PG-13? Push is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking.
Despite it’s PG-13 rating, this film contains excessive depictions of violence. Using their ability to control the minds of others, pushers force two people to put a gun in their mouth and pull the trigger. Soldiers are commanded to shoot one another while other characters are convinced to murder their partners. A child watches his father killed; another youngster sees her mother kidnapped. Victims are injected with a radioactive serum that causes convulsions and usually death. Characters are kicked, punched, dropped, knocked down a flight of stairs and thrown against a wall during hand-to-hand combat. They are also shot at, impaled, threatened with weapons and killed. Individuals with the ability to emit high-frequency screams cause glass objects to break, eardrums to rupture, fish to explode and brains to burst. Frequent bloody injuries are depicted along with news-style clips of explosions, destruction and secret experimentation. A young girl sees visions of her own and others’ deaths. Characters play games of chance. Numerous characters smoke and drink. A teen consumes a bottle of alcohol and is portrayed as drunk in a comedic context. A couple briefly kisses. A man comments on having sexual relations with a woman. A strong sexual expletive, numerous uses of scatological slang and some terms of Deity are used.
Page last updated July 25, 2016
Push Parents' Guide
Both Nick and Cassie are orphaned as young children. Why do you think there is no explanation given for how they survived on their own? Where does Cassie get her money?
After discovering his unique talent, why does Nick neglect the opportunity to develop it?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Push movie is July 21, 2009. Here are some details…
Release Date: 14 July 2009
Push shoves its way into the home video market on DVD and Blu-ray. Both formats offer deleted scenes and audio commentaries by the director and cast, as well as behind-the-scenes footage and featurettes.
Related home video titles:
Chris Evans plays another character with the special ability to burst into flames in the Fantastic Four and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Other outcasts with paranormal talents live in hiding in (Hearts in Atlantis) and/or use their powers to serve and protect (Hellboy and X-men).