"Premium Rush" - Film Review

2012 has been a kind year to Joseph Gordon-Levitt star of Premium Rush. He’s starred in four box office successes, including big name films such as The Dark Knight Rises, Looper, and Lincoln. And that’s coming off last year where he starred in Inception and 50/50, two other very good movie. Levitt is sort of an “it guy” now, and why shouldn’t he be? He’s a really good actor. Premium Rush doesn’t ask much in the way of acting from him, but he totally sells every scene he’s in. An early scene where a corrupt cop tries to steal a letter from him and he totally puts him down by calling him a “douchebag” made me realize just how good Levitt is. This is such a simple film with such a straightforward plot, but it’s to the credit of everyone involved that it’s as enjoyable, stylish, and fun as it is.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat (I guess if you’re into that sort of bizarre thing). I discussed this before when I was talking about The Vampire Diaries. In a way, (to oversimplify) there’s a dividing line between high minded, serious entertainment and less rigorous, less serious entertainment. The more high minded stuff attempts to edify you; it often has you think complexly and take away something meaningful from the work. The less serious works, on the other hand, are all about pure, unadulterated fun. That’s not to say the high minded works aren’t fun or the less serious works aren’t intelligent, but that they often have different thematic and structural aims in mind. 

I would say that Premium Rush falls in the latter category, and I say that as a compliment. Premium Rush is so assured with its high octane action that it plows through one sequence after another without ever missing a beat. Each action sequence is shot and edited with such style and finesse that it’s hard not to enjoy yourself while watching it.

More importantly perhaps: the film makes bike riding a subject matter worth watching, a feat not done since the last Tour-de-France. While I personally care little for such a topic, it’s to the credit of director David Koepp, writers Koepp and John Kamps, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s typical charm at the heart of the film that turn this by the numbers action movie into such a well-crafted action thriller.

Grade: B