THE STORY:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Wilee) stars in this fast paced movie which involves a bunch of bike messengers. One day Wilee ends up with more than he bargained for when he picks up a package that sends many people hot on his trail. Wilee is the star biker of the bunch who loves the speed and prefers going fast without the use of brakes on his ride. Expect many fast chases and spills on two wheels in this one!
MY RANT:
When after watching a movie involving bicycle chases you go out and grab a pair of bicycle gloves, you know that the film definitely has appeal. This is exactly what Premium Rush made me feel after the credits started rolling.
The story is simple yet refreshing. Standing out from the crowd of car chases and gunfights that cloud up other hollywood films, Premium Rush uses the idea of bicycle messengers and makes it look thrilling! For people clueless about bicycles, the newly found awareness of how fast bicycles can go and the actual danger of using brakes while traveling at such light speeds adds an interesting informative and thrill to the experience. Now people can see how riding fast on a bicycle isn’t such a walk in the park after all.
Director and writer David Koepp does well in creating a film that combines both geek and thrill seamlessly. And his choice of lead actor in Joseph Gordon-Levitt (JGL) certainly is a wise one as who is else screams geek, chic and cool at the same time better than JGL himself!
In the film there are adequate amounts of geek vibe in terms of bicycle stunts and gadgets (gps) that would charm both bike enthusiasts and normal audiences alike, though a heavier focus on more extreme stunts would no doubt have been much more exciting and appealing. The chases and spills were good fun especially with the way the film was presented – with a touch of cheesy humour added through a few tongue-in-cheek moments. The meticulous road mapping brain of JGL’s character with his “which route to take” moments replayed in his mind added a sweet touch of wackiness to the film which added to the fun.
The element of switching between the present and past (few hours back) in the story-telling worked nicely as it grabbed attention and made audiences sit up right from the start; I mean who wouldn’t be curious with a crash in the opening scene and seeing JGL flying through the air!
However, there is one area that really disappointed me as I felt that Premium Rush could have easily been a much stronger and greater movie otherwise. The trigger that started this whole wild goose bike chase could have been a more complex and engaging story with more threatening consequences. The actual story used revolving around Jamie Chung felt a little too tame and was not thrilling enough for me, I clearly expected more heart pumping and major conflicts coming. That would have added more weight to the whole film and I think audiences would have take it more seriously too. But then again, maybe this film worked precisely because of its popcorn nature of an action thriller, so I can’t complain too much.
Coming down to the wire, Premium Rush is a really entertaining movie for someone looking for fun and action. The characters’ stories are decent too and there is surprisingly a good dash – just a dash – of violence for those who like their movies hardcore. But as with all fast rides, speed can thrill but for some it might not be their cup of tea. One might not be impressed, but I doubt they will hate it:)
FUN FACT
JGL and almost all of his fellow actors on a bike got injured during the making of the film. No green screen were used and hence the crashes you see on screen were physically simulated and really happening. I guess that’s why I found it so exciting watching these bike messengers go up against the harsh new york traffic!;] Below is a clip of JGL showing his gashed arm after crashing into the back of a taxi’s windshield. Warning: It’s bloody with some inappropriate language! :o)