Love Never Felt So Sad

WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW

While the world obsesses over Joaquin Phoenix's strange departure from acting to take up a career in hip-hop, I was lucky enough to check out what could very well be his last movie, Two Lovers. And what a beautiful movie it is. As I sit here and write this review and ponder over what I just saw, I've come to realize just how much I enjoyed this twisted look at love, loss, and the unhappiness that many people live with daily.

The film follows Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix), who attempts to kill himself by drowning at the outset of the film, only to give up and resurface. He's a troubled man, depressed after his fiancé leaves him. While his parents attempt to make sparks fly with Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), Leonard falls in love with a beautiful woman named Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow) who has just moved in next door.

What follows is a dark and in depth look at love and settling for somebody you know will never make you happy, all through the eyes of a depressed and bitter man. Love doesn't always work out and that crutch has been explored through other films, but rarely do you get to see a troubled man get worse. It was fascinating watching this guy descend deeper into loneliness, however saddening it may be.

While the title obviously plays to the fact that Leonard is seeing two women, Two Lovers also relates to Michelle, who is seeing Leonard and another older man who she says she is in love with. What this creates narratively is an ending that leaves the film at a crossroads. Despite being madly in love with Michelle, he is forced to settle with his second choice, which for him is no choice at all. Although he ends up with somebody who loves him and will take care of him, it doesn't negate the loneliness. At the end of the film, Leonard is still unhappy and the tear he sheds is for the loneliness that is still eating away inside of him. Just like his previous love, Michelle leaves him which forces him to follow the same circular pattern of never finding true happiness.

What really brings this film around to this type of quality are the extraordinary performances. In particular, Joaquin Phoenix does an amazing job with Leonard, a loser so pitiful that you might feel like abandoning him, but Phoenix's brilliant portrayal makes him a character that, despite his shortcomings, you can't help but sympathize with.

This is one of those rare movies that you can't watch and know exactly how to feel. Like films such as Gone Baby Gone, it never reaches a true conclusion and leaves it up to the viewer to decide how they feel. That is its strongest feature. When this movie was over, I knew I liked it, but in retrospect, I realized how great it was and I think it deserves to be seen. It's only in limited release right now, but if you can find a theatre screening it, I think you'll find a real hidden gem in Two Lovers.

Two Lovers receives 5/5

Shopaholic is Fluff Garbage

Horrendous. That was the word running through my head throughout most of Confessions of a Shopaholic. Now, I fully understand that I am not the demographic for this film, but even the ladies out there should be able to see how shallow and unfulfilling this dismal trainwreck turned out to be. Shopaholic almost turned me into an alcoholic because that was the only way I could see myself escaping with my sanity intact.

Confessions of a Shopaholic follows Rebecca (Isla Fisher) who just loooovvvees buying clothes because, like, they're so, like, fashionable! Tee hee! Too bad she's just been canned, is in complete debt and is on the fast track to living in a van down by the river. But as movie luck would have it, she is hired by a financial magazine thanks to her brilliant way of metaphorically tying numbers and clothes together. Like I said, brilliant. Then she meets this guy and, well, you know what happens from here.

Is this movie supposed to be funny? I hesitate to call it a comedy because I only chuckled once or twice (maybe). Of course, I also chuckle at Dora the Explorer occasionally, so what the hell do I know? This film was so unfunny you could have heard crickets chirping in the theater. Rarely did I hear everybody laugh.

However, that could be due to the atrocious dialogue. While the movie certainly isn't a prize winner, you would think something as simple as creating mildly decent dialogue wouldn't be too taxing on the writers. But you'd think wrong. The film's dialogue had me unintentionally laughing or rolling my eyes more times than I can count. There had to be at least a dozen groan inducing lines in this travesty.

But here's the worst part. All this film does is buy into the consumerism stereotype and the idea that no woman anywhere can be happy without a Prada bag and cashmere sweater. I haven't seen a film with such rampant disrespect for women in years. Every single female that appears in this film, which numbers in the dozens, is a shopaholic and obsessed with clothes and shoes. Their personality traits are tied only to what they're wearing and frankly, I found it disgusting. There isn't one strong, independent female in this entire film.

The only good thing about the movie is that the performances by the cast were uniformly good. On the whole, I really can't complain. Isla Fisher is adorably cute as usual and elevated this bottom-of-the-barrel material above and beyond what it would have accomplished with a different lead.

With that said, so...freaking...what? Strong performances don't mean jack when you have such a dismal story accompanied by dreadful dialogue and a shallow representation of women. Females everywhere would be doing a disservice to themselves to plop down their hard earned cash and tell Hollywood that this is what they want to see. I implore you, don't give into this appalling illustration of the female mindset and skip Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Confessions of a Shopaholic receives 1/5

He's Just Not That Into You Solid Even for the Guys

Going into this, I was totally ready to create a clever title for this review, something along the lines of, "I'm Just Not That Into This Movie," but the truth is, He's Just Not That Into You is actually pretty solid. Considering how tepid and crappy most romantic comedies tend to be, how could I have thought otherwise? Luckily for me (and you), this film breaks the mold and gives us a perfect Valentine's Day flick that even the fellas might not mind checking out.

Like its genre cousin, Love Actually, He's Just Not That Into You has way too many characters and plotlines to follow, some of which are very interesting and some of which are boring and unnecessary. And also like Love Actually, the characters are tied together somewhat loosely and it would have benefited from a shorter run time.

Believe it or not, the film runs over two hours long, which can admittedly be off-putting and it crams plenty of stories into that 2+ hours. The problem is that for every story that you care about, there is another that probably should have been left on the cutting room floor. For instance, the Justin Long and Ginnifer Goodwin characters are interesting, charming, and they form a great relationship. Every minute spent with them is wonderful and it shows the game that boys and girls play when it comes to dating. These characters are smartly written and fun to watch. (Honestly, I could have watched a whole standalone flick about Ginnifer Goodwin. That girl is adorable!) But then you have your Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston characters, two people living together, in love, but aren't married. Aniston wants to get married, Affleck doesn't, so she freaks out. Well, boo hoo. I thought the film was called He's Just Not That Into You, not He's Just Not That Into Facing the Crushing Reality That Life Sucks After Marriage. Although the payoff at the end of the film was sweet and had me getting goosebumps, these characters felt forced into what was otherwise a solidly written film and they should have been cut.

Picture this for me if you will. After the screening for this film, I was super hungry. Since I'm poor and have no food back at my place, I decided to go pick something up. As I stood in line and waited my turn to order, a romantic college couple was talking behind me. After the chick says something playfully mean to her boyfriend, the guy says, "I guess one of us has to be the asshole in this relationship." She responds, "I have enough of both to go around; naughty and nice. You can just be yourself." Then in one of those cutesy, melodic voices she sings, "That's why I love you!" I almost hurled right then and there. Now picture me turning around, smacking them both and saying, "You two are why romantic comedies are cliché!" Of course, I didn't do that, but damn I was close.

My point is this. After hearing that revolting exchange, I realized that He's Just Not That Into You was practically void of clichés. This moment of actuality surpassed the film in eye-rolling, ridiculous, sappy, sentimental bullcrap we've all become accustomed to. It actually avoids many of the typical problems most romantic comedies fall under and for that, I cannot praise it enough. Although it does revert back to clichés near the end of the picture, it was mostly satisfying and the two characters I cared most about were sent off with a bang. I'm actually bumping my score up half a point because those two lovebirds annoyed me so much that I actually found myself appreciating the film more. That's quite a feat.

This is one of those movies that I would deem "critic proof." Valentine's Day is coming up and this movie is going to make bank regardless of what I or anybody else says about it. It's just that simple. What's surprising, however, is that the film is one I would actually want to go see with my loved one on that special day and I think many guys will be quite surprised when the film is over. He's Just Not That Into You is a romantic comedy that isn't very funny, but it's original enough to be entertaining, a rare breed indeed. Due yourself a favor and check it out.

He's Just Not That Into You receives 4/5

Top 10 Movies to Watch on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is fast approaching so you know what that means...time for another holiday themed movie list! I myself have a love/hate relationship with this day because on one hand, I'm a huge sap that gets all gooey from the notion of love, but on the other hand, I'm a complete loser who usually ends up hanging out alone in my room with my favorite dirty magazines. To each their own I suppose. Regardless, the day is meant for love and what better way to celebrate it than watching these flicks? Without further ado, I present to you the Top 10 Movies to Watch on Valentine's Day.

10. The Lake House—I’ll admit. This really wasn’t all that great of a movie (hence the #10 spot). However, this is a film that really struck an emotional chord in me because I could relate to the allegory it had created. The film is about two people who fall in love, but never get the chance to have that love blossom because they live two years apart, one in 2006 and one in 2004. They communicate through a mailbox at a lake house that they both lived in at one point in their lives. While that’s definitely a cheesy scenario, the comparison between this relationship and a real life long distance relationship are plainly clear. The characters both know that a relationship is improbable due to these extraordinary circumstances and I can tell you from first hand experience, it sucks having the only person you’ve ever truly connected with living halfway across the country. So despite the film’s overall predictability, way too convenient happy ending, and the huge gaping paradox the ending would have created, this film touched me because I know what it feels like to wait for that one special someone knowing that distance will most likely prevent you from having that chance to fall in love. And now I feel feminine. Moving on.

9. Lady and the Tramp—Are you in the mood for romance, but have kids around and don’t want to watch anything inappropriate? Well, Lady and the Tramp just might be your best bet for sappy, sweet love on this holiest of card-company-invented holidays. Granted, there are other, better love stories for the whole family, but you know what? I’m a dog person and nothing gives me that “Aww, how adorable” feeling like a couple of dogs nuzzling against each other. (Is that weird?) I just watched this again for the first time in probably fifteen years and loved every second of it. There’s something to be said for old school animation and in this age of computer generated imagery, it was terrific to hearken back to the old days. If for no other reason, Lady and the Tramp is worth checking out on Valentine’s Day for that iconic scene where the two dogs eat the same piece of spaghetti, meet in the middle, and kiss. If that doesn’t melt your heart, then you don’t have one.

8. The Notebook—This is probably the fan favorite on this list, but I’m not including it here as a service to you, but rather from the fact that I actually really liked this movie. Although the other Nicholas Spark film adaptations, A Walk to Remember and Nights in Rodanthe, turned out to be complete duds, this one managed to work due to strong performances from Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams and a story that can be cherished by anybody who believes in the power of love. It’s a film that shows how enduring love is throughout a lifetime. It shows that you can fall head over heels in love and still feel the same way during your last moments on Earth that you did when you first laid eyes on that special someone. It truly is a moving movie. However, despite my affection for it, I do think all of the ladies tend to over hype it. While scenes between Gosling and McAdams were terrific, everything in between simply felt like filler, like the brief WWII scene where Gosling loses a friend in battle. This scene was so short and uninteresting that I really didn’t care. Still, you can’t help but love the way this movie unfolds. The Notebook is not the end all, be all romance movie you ladies make it out to be, but it’s a solid entry in the genre that can be enjoyed even by the guys.

7. Love Actually—When I told my friends that I was going to continue with my holiday themed movie lists and create a top 10 Valentine’s Day one, I already knew most of what I was going to include. I had a good seven or eight already picked out; films that I loved and think others should love too. Once the girls heard that not every spot on the list had been filled, they immediately told me to include Love Actually. Even my sister, who hates romance films, suggested this one. Having never seen it, I made no promises. But after viewing it, I have decided it does indeed deserve a spot here. Love Actually is a romancer’s romance, a film that has layers and layers of love stacked up so high that for a moment you forget that anything else even exists. The movie follows what has to be about seven or eight love stories all interweaving (however loosely) with each other. But what’s surprising about this film is that not all of the stories are romantic. One explores the relationship between a stepfather and stepson whose wife/mother has just passed away. Another focuses on a child finding that first love. Some even deal with the love that exists between two friends. The saying “love knows no boundaries” fits this movie perfectly because it shows so many different angles on love with different circumstances surrounding them. It’s not a perfect movie by any means though. Some stories have little to nothing to do with the whole of the film while others aren’t even ended properly and instead are all but forgotten. Sometimes it felt like the writers had a handful of short stories and then decided to cram them together creating a loosely connected mish mash of a movie. But it’s impossible not to come away charmed by at least a few of these stories. Thanks to superb performances all around (which is a feat in itself considering how many characters are in this film), Love Actually transcends the romantic comedy genre and is the perfect film for Valentine’s Day.

6. My Bloody Valentine (2009)—If you’ve read my other holiday themed movie lists (and if you haven’t, check them out right here and here), then you know that I can be a bit cynical when it comes to the holidays. Honestly, there’s only so much love and cheer I can take. Sometimes I just need a good old exploitative horror movie to help me escape from all the aggravating “I-have-a-girlfriend-and-you-don’t” crap I see every year on Valentine’s Day. Luckily for me (and every other jaded guy out there), this year gave us one of the most fun, exploitatively violent slasher movies I’ve seen in quite some time. Sure, the 3D is a gimmick and without it, My Bloody Valentine is merely another formulaic serial killer movie with minimal scares and idiotic characters. But this time, the gimmick worked. Although some might be turned off at the thought of all this violent carnage leaping into their faces, others will have a blast, fully understanding that it’s not a movie to be taken seriously. And the best part about it? It should still be playing in theaters if you’re reading this up to date. In 2D, don’t bother, but My Bloody Valentine will rip you a new one in 3D and is perfect for anybody who can’t stand the sappy sentimentality of the holiday.

5. Atonement—One of the best films of 2007 and nominated for best picture of the year at the Oscars, Atonement is everything a sweeping romance should be and more. Although it is a roller coaster of quality, amazing you during one scene and boring you to death the next, all of it adds up to one of the saddest and most heartfelt movies I’ve ever seen (that or I’m a complete wuss—I can’t decide which). With strong actors giving strong performances and a superb twist ending that is guaranteed to make you shed a tear, you have an epic romance for the ages. But what really pulls this film through is the beautiful direction. While the film would have been fine without it, Joe Wright’s stylistic camerawork pushed it beyond its source material. In particular, there is one shot that lasts about four minutes, never cutting, that follows James McAvoy onto a beach, then leaves him and sweeps up the coast showing the other soldiers, before eventually meeting back up with him. It was stunning and worth seeing the movie alone for. There were definitely better films in 2007 (which is why it lost the best picture award), but what films like Michael Clayton and No Country for Old Men were lacking in, Atonement was practically comprised of—human emotion and dealing with the fact that life doesn’t always deal you the cards you’d like to have.

4. When Harry Met Sally—Romantic comedies are some of the most clichéd, predictable, and overwrought films to be released every year. Most are so stupid that you just don’t care whether or not the two main characters hook up, although you know they will because, like I said, they’re incredibly predictable. I can usually look at the poster for a romantic comedy and tell you exactly how it’ll end. They follow such a rigid formula that I’m amazed people still waste their time and money watching them when there are tons of films of much better quality out there. However, even this tired genre gets its fair share on this list because When Harry Met Sally truly is terrific. I can say without hesitation that When Harry Met Sally is the best romantic comedy ever made. While it’s still fairly predictable, it takes some nice unexpected turns to keep things fresh. It also has two excellent leads in the form of Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, who have perfect chemistry. From the very first scene of the film, you love these characters and you want to spend time with them and that is why this film succeeds while its brothers and sisters in the genre fail time and time again. On top of this, it’s very funny. Billy Crystal is hilarious in the movie and actually creates some marvelous insights into the male/female relationship that make perfect sense if you think about them. I just watched this again for the first time in years and it’s still a perfect little gem. Every time I see it, I love it more and more. When Harry Met Sally is about as close to perfect as a romantic comedy will ever get.

3. Brokeback Mountain—Yes, this is a romance movie between two men, but you know what? It’s beautiful and one of the best romance films I’ve ever seen. This is a great movie to be sure, but the main strength of it probably lies with its societal relevance. What it does strikingly well is show how society looks down upon them and how they try to cope with pretending to be somebody they’re not. It’s remarkable in the way it portrays these two young men who have to hide their true selves because of society’s ignorance and discrimination. Of course, another big part of this film’s success is the unflinching performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and the late, great Heath Ledger. What they manage to do with these two characters is incredibly moving and they take on the roles with gusto, never holding back for a second. Just through their actions, you can see that they care so much about each other, but try to reject those feelings to fit into society’s standards. Brokeback Mountain doesn’t so much make a political point as it does a reasonable, tolerant one. It shows that who you fall in love with shouldn’t matter. What’s really important is how strong that love is.

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind—I don’t even know where to begin with this one. It’s one of my favorite romance films of all time, but it’s so odd that giving you a quick synopsis will probably turn you away from watching it. Unlike a lot of romance movies, this one begins with the break up of the two leads. Joel (Jim Carrey) is in love with Clementine (Kate Winslet), but soon finds out that she has had all of her memories of him erased from her mind. Joel, heartbroken, decides to do the same thing. While he is sleeping, the process begins and as the memories begin to fade, he starts to realize how much he still loves her. He can see all of the memories in his head and little by little, each detail fades away while he desperately tries to cling onto something. What this film does so well is put into perspective lost loves. Regardless of the pain you’re feeling after a relationship ends, you want to hold onto the good memories because you don’t realize how special they are until you don’t have them anymore. Featuring Jim Carrey in a serious role (and doing a phenomenal job), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is the rare film where weird is stacked upon weird, but the end result feels more natural than so called “normal” romance movies. If you haven’t seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, you’re missing out. It’s touching, thoughtful, unique, and special. You won’t ever forget it.

1. Casablanca—There are a few things needed for a film to warrant a classic status. First, the film has to be a real achievement in cinema that can be enjoyed by anybody with even a passing taste in movies. Second, it has to hold up today. If a film was great 40 years ago, but doesn’t pack quite the same punch anymore, then its worth is diminished. Lastly, it has to provide memorable moments and/or quotes that will forever be ingrained in the minds of the viewers. Some people throw the word “classic” around a bit too often (including me), but if Casablanca isn’t a classic, I don’t know what is. Casablanca is one of, if not the most iconic movie in film history and meets all three of those criteria. It really is a terrific movie in every way, and it still works today thanks to great cast performances, an engaging story, and some of the most quotable lines ever put to film. “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Yeah, that was Casablanca. “This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Also Casablanca. And how about that iconic ending where Humphrey Bogart sacrifices his happiness to ensure the love of his life is safe? If you don’t watch this film, you’ll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. That was a bad joke. Sorry about that.

Pink Panther 2 Better Than Original...

...although that's really not saying all that much. The Pink Panther 2 is a film that I seriously doubt many people care about, so excuse me if I don't sound too ecstatic to talk about it. I'm a college student. Getting my schoolwork done is hard enough and talking about a mediocre follow-up to a mediocre film doesn't really get my blood rushing with excitement. Don't take my cynical tone as negative though. Although the critics at my screening seemed to despise the film, I turned my brain off and walked out pleasantly surprised at what I had seen, although I think it falls just shy of being recommendable.

Steve Martin once again steps into the shoes of Jacques Clouseau, a character made famous by legendary actor Peter Sellers, and if you saw the previous film you pretty much know what to expect from this one. The Pink Panther diamond is stolen again and Clouseau has to get it back. Basically, it's the first one all over again only with different scenarios, like National Treasure 2.

But unlike National Treasure 2, The Pink Panther 2 isn't a horrendous piece of filmmaking. It's merely corny and forgettable. Although I wasn't exactly a fan of the first film, I also didn't find it to be the abomination that others made it out to be. The same holds true for this one and I believe it surpasses the previous film in entertainment value. Believe it or not, I laughed quite a bit near the beginning of the film, shocked at how much I was enjoying it. But as it went on, it started to sag tremendously and became pretty redundant. This is in large part due to the extensive use of slapstick. As a general rule, you're going to want to avoid slapstick comedy if you're trying to be funny. This film ignored that rule and is its main downfall.

Just as well, everything in between was boring. The love story between Clouseau and Nicole, played by Emily Mortimer, was tired and unconvincing. But does that really even matter? Yes, the movie is predictable and it's fairly obvious who nabbed the Pink Panther diamond, but this film isn't about story, so it's a moot point.

The film is about Clouseau and his zany adventures. I can see why many people will hate this movie, but as I sat there, I admired Steve Martin's dedication to this character. He did things that many actors would consider humiliating and he did it all for the sake of comedy. While it didn't always pan out the way he might have hoped, I was impressed that Martin devoted himself entirely to this silly role.

As I walked out of the screening, I mentioned how I thought the film was "harmless." A nearby critic disagreed and explained how sexist, racist, and blasphemous it was. A lot of critics will probably agree, but I believe it is all about context. Clouseau is like a child. He isn't aware that some of the things he says are hurtful to other people. He's only trying to help. Yes, some Catholics might find it offensive and it has a pretty unexpected racist remark about Asians, but when you step back and look at it, it's nothing more than harmless fun. Besides, Clouseau learns his lesson by the end of the film. Either way, it's The Pink Panther 2. Come on. You can't take this film seriously.

And that is the main reason I found it somewhat enjoyable. Anybody who walks into this movie ready to tear it apart with in depth analysis and witty, condescending critic talk doesn't realize how innocent and stupid it is trying to be. It doesn't claim to be a classic and only tries to amuse you for an hour and a half. Although it eventually runs out of steam, I believe it mostly accomplishes that goal. Still, there are better movies to waste your time with, so I am not going to recommend The Pink Panther 2.

The Pink Panther 2 receives 2.5/5

Push is Mediocre Filmmaking at its Best

Push is one of those flicks where the trailers accurately portray the film's overall quality. They did nothing to excite me and were mediocre at best. Coincidentally, Push is just another middling, forgettable action picture. This is a case of "what you see is what you get," so if you saw ample amounts of awesome in the trailer, you'll probably love this. For this bearded fellow who desperately wanted a bit of substance to the absurdity, Push didn't provide that extra push (ha!) to warrant a recommendation.

There are people around us that have special powers, known by different names according to what they can do. (For the sake of brevity, I'll only name the three important ones.) Chris Evans plays Nick, a Mover who can create a protective shield and make objects levitate allowing for safe attacks while in cover. Dakota Fanning plays Cassie, a Watcher who can see into the future, although those events can be changed if the present is manipulated in a significant way. Camilla Belle plays Kira, a Pusher who can inject false memories and thoughts into her enemies' minds, allowing them to bend to her will. The three are being tracked by a U.S. government agency called the Division after Kira escapes from one of their test facilities. Because of this, they are forced to cooperate to elude the Division and change the bleak future that promises them death.

What follows is a pretty drab action movie with minimal amounts of action. There are really only two action scenes in the whole film, one about halfway through that is relatively short and one at the end that is lengthy, but disappointing. Neither of them are particularly mind-blowing. Still, they manage to entertain at times due to the undeniably cool powers that the characters possess. But there was one huge problem. After what is nearly a two hour movie, I was ready to see an epic clash between the warring factions, but instead I ended up seeing a whole crop of no name extras shooting each other due to the Pusher's ability to manipulate minds. Instead of fighting themselves, irrevelant brainwashed dudes ran in from all corners of the screen only to be shot up by even more irrelevant brainwashed dudes. This creates a dilemma in the audience member because you have no connection with the majority of the people fighting. How are you supposed to care about a battle when you don't care about who's in the thick of it?

Nevertheless, I can't deny that the time I spent seeing the powers in action was fun and in the end it served its purpose and worked. What didn't work is everything else. While the plot was quite unique, elements of it were a bit too convenient for my taste (which I won't go into here to avoid spoilers) and the drama and attempts at humor were fairly routine. In particular, a large portion of the dialogue was atrocious. Plenty of action movies have generic, cheesy lines, but Push set a new bar for modern action flicks. However, if it had gone for a sillier tone, this cheesiness would be excusable. The recent film Shoot 'Em Up is a perfect example of over-the-top silliness done right. That movie never took itself seriously, so instead of rolling your eyes at the dialogue, you were aware of the film's self parody and laughing at it. Push takes itself way too seriously, hoping to be an epic action flick and it fails.

Despite some of the lines they were forced to recite, the cast was fine overall. Djimon Hounsou was terrific as always and Dakota Fanning did whatever she could to elevate this mediocre material (although she did not belong in this film -- she deserves better). Even Camilla Belle surprised me. After her two starring roles in the horrendous When a Stranger Calls and my number one pick for worst movie of 2008, 10,000 B.C., I had all but given up hope, but she managed herself well this time.

Look, this is a stupidly fun movie that I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy; it just simply rubbed me the wrong way. There wasn't anything done here I haven't seen done better in countless other action flicks and I suggest going and finding one of those instead, but if you're really dying to see an action movie in the theater this weekend, go see Taken (which you can read my review of right here). The action is better, there's lots more of it, and its stylish as hell. Push is not a bad movie per se, although I am not recommending it, but if run-of-the-mill action movies are your cup of tea, be my guest. You might like it.

Push receives 2/5