Premium Rush Review

Let it ride-Joseph Gordon Levitt as a bike messenger and Michael Shannon as a dirty cop in Premium Rush

       With so many action films now-a-days relying too much on the action itself and not enough character development...it's nice to have something like Premium Rush out. It is a formulaic but surprisingly developed action thriller about a bike messenger (Joseph Gordon Levitt) who must deliver an envelope to a woman and  gets involved with a crook (Michael Shannon) who chases him down for the envelope. The problem is...Shannon's a cop and well liked by everyone at the department.

         Levitt as Wilee and Shannon as Bobby are both fantastic in their own ways. They both give off their own energy to their respectful roles and both give their characters more depth than you might expect. While Shannon's Bobby may be too over the top for some...he makes his character thoroughly menacing and yet also quite charming. Lest we forget that Levitt is just a great actor altogether. His performances always remind me of someone like Jeff Bridges or Robert De Niro back in the day. Sure...he looks like just another guy trying to show off his looks in Hollywood but he's so much more than that.

         I also loved the supporting cast in this film. Aasif Mandvi as Wilee's boss, Anthony Chisholm as his messenger enemy and Dania Ramirez as his love interest are all fantastic as well. There are a couple flaws with the film, however. As with James Bond or a Jean Claude Van Damme film...you have to suspend disbelief with the action scenes. However...this film takes it a bit too far with the impossibility of its action scenes. Also....the twist at the end of the film doesn't bring that much of a pay off nor add to the film.

          However...Premium Rush fires on all cylinders. It's funny, quick and features great performances from both Levitt and Shannon, The film also does feature some terrific (albeit ludicrous) stunt work. If you are in the mood to just have some end of summer fun...Premium Rush should be your kind of movie.

(4 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for some violence, intense action sequences and language)