Premium Rush Review

Going into Premium Rush I was a bit skeptical. The trailers made this film look silly but it had a good cast and writer/director David Koepp helming it, so I had to give it a shot. When I left this film, I realized that this is a film of a rare breed: a fun action thriller that is not meant to be taken seriously, but also does not insult the audience as a result.

One thing I really enjoyed about this film was the casting. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a great performance as Wilee, a bike-riding daredevil who has to deliver this mysterious package on time. He gives innocence to this character which instantly makes him likeable and makes you root for him to complete his mission. The real show-stealer here is Michael Shannon, who gives a corrupt cop who wants the package from Wilee. The villain Shannon plays is both goofy and terrifying, but not over the top on both accounts. This film shows Shannon can play great villains, which makes me anticipate his turn as General Zod in next year's Man of Steel even more. The rest of the actors do a fine job at playing their characters but they are ultimately one dimensional for me to care about them.

The script is very well done for an action film. Instead of telling this story in chronological order, Koepp puts certain plot points in random scenes. This makes the film move at a brisk pace and doesn't bore the audience as a result. The one issue I had with the script was a lack of character development from the other characters other than Gordon-Levitt's or Shannon's.

The action scenes are really fun to watch. The bike chase scenes are a spectacle to see, it amazes me how Koepp was able to shoot these bikers around NYC without pedestrian complaints. While the CGI can be goofy during the biker intuition scenes, it is cool and exciting to watch. It shows how dangerous these bikers' jobs can be.

What more can I say about Premium Rush? This is a action-chase thriller that could have been made in the 90's but instead is made today. It's a fun and entertaing film that doesn't want to take it self seriously nor should it. They really do not make films like this anymore especially with great actors, a smart script, and clever direction. If you want to have fun without leaving your brain at the door, Premium Rush is the film to check out.

Rating: 8 out of 10