Review of Premium Rush (2012) by Walter M — 08 Apr 2014

In "Premium Rush," Wilee(Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a bike messenger in New York City who along with potentially deadly traffic has to contend with Manny(Wole Parks) stealing his customers and hitting on his ex-girlfriend Vanessa(Dania Ramirez). His latest job is a long run to Columbia University to pick up an envelope which Bobby(Michael Shannon) has a more than healthy interest in. After Wilee reads him the union rules about not surrendering packages, Bobby tries to run him down but Wilee escapes. Soon after, Wilee as a concerned citizen goes to report Bobby. But of all the precinct houses in New York, he had to pick the one that Bobby works out of as a New York City Police Detective.

With two arguably overqualified actors in the leads, "Premium Rush" has a set-up to die for with its promise of a game of cat and mouse in real time with the filmmakers using Manhattan as their own personal playground to the hilt. While they do get turned around at one point and Wilee requires directions more than absolutely necessary, the chase sequences are definitely exciting and flashy without violating the laws of physics. However, it is one thing to give Wilee a totally unecessary backstory; it is much worse for the movie to twist itself into knots over the Maguffin, even bringing things to a halt a couple of times. And I am not exactly buying the ending either.