Good news. "Premium Rush" holds your attention. It is stunt person-heavy, but I didn't see a lot of blue screen nonsense. And it runs a taut and compact ninety minutes. Just perfect for a small popcorn and a medium Diet Coke. Say amen. And please take note, Christopher Nolan, who gave us the woeful "Dark Knight" films.
Unlike all of the other action junk released this summer, "Premium Rush" doesn't take itself too seriously. It wants to tell a story and entertain you. That's it. It is likely that, if you think about it too long, you will realize a lot of it is implausible and makes little sense. The plot might have more holes than a hillbilly's t-shirt. But it is a fun ride with no pretense and thank God for these filmmakers who don't feel this need to keep demonstrating just how creative they mistakenly think they are.
"Premium Rush" takes you into an arena that was completely new to me. The world of bicycle messenging in Manhattan and everybody has probably almost been mowed down by one of them at some point in our lives. Most are likely assholes who certainly don't pay an iota of attention to standard traffic regulations. But, their job is to get something from one point to another in as little time as possible. Just like a New York City cab driver, except the riders in "Premium Rush" all speak English.
The always dependable and frequently underrated actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, plays our hero, Wiley, like the coyote. And that's certainly fitting since all of the film unfolds like a Road Runner cartoon. Wiley is the best and fastest cyclist for the messenger company he works at and he prefers this career path to the pre-law degree he was pursuing at Columbia University. Of course, he is asked to bring a very important envelope from Point A to Point B within 90 minutes. Except there are folks who don't want him to make this connection. And, given that this is set on the streets of New York City, here's a needless spoiler alert. Yes, there are crooked cops in this movie.
Through a series of carefully constructed flashbacks which really encompass a mere three hours of a late afternoon in rush hour Manhattan, you learn what's in the envelope, who wants it delivered, and who wants it not delivered. Wiley is unwittingly at the center of it all. And, as is the motto of his messenger company, once the package is in his bag, he must make sure it reaches its final destination.
"Premium Rush" moves very quickly, but that's because these bike riders are fast. You don't have time to think because you are quickly onto the next important plot point. Meanwhile, along the way, you get to experience some of the best chase scenes I've seen on film in years. And it's all very real. During the closing credits, you get to see the bloody evidence of an accident that the star had during shooting. There are stunt cyclists, for sure. But, the actors were certainly involved and you don't see many computer-generated moments in the film. Movies like they used to be.
Oh, sure, there are problems. While the plot really unfolds from 5PM to 7PM one afternoon, the sunlight goes from twilight to bright sunshine and back again constantly. The continuity of lighting is definitely suspect. But, I found I didn't really care. I was having too good a time to quibble. Suddenly, I was fondly remembering past summers where you could lose yourself mindlessly in some new and exciting air-conditioned world.
Yep, you don't need a brain to see "Premium Rush." And, sometimes, that's the reason to go out to a movie.
Dinner last night: Leftover chicken sausage, rice, and sauteed tomatoes.
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