Push (2009)

A superhero film without the costumes and nicknames, "Push" pulsates with a neon glow and changing camera lenses (from wide to flat to fisheye) that keeps the viewer off kilter.

Living in Hong Kong is one Nick Gant (Chris Evans), an American constantly on the run from mysterious U.S. operatives since childhood. He has the extraordinary ability to move objects with his mind, and Uncle Sam wants him to become part of a secret army of some sort. After Nick is harassed at his grungy pad by two agent goons with superpowers of their own, there's a knock at his door. In walks Cassie (Dakota Fanning), a young American teen seeking help in finding a mysterious suitcase. Cassie can see and then draw the future, letting Nick know they will die. The inevitable search for a savior object is on.

Director Paul McGuigan has a keen, playful eye: The film looks kinetic. But the pacing is slow, and the far-more-interesting villains (led by a cool Djimon Hounsou and evil Neil Jackson) rule the roost with ease as Evans is dull and Fanning often is used as comic relief. A climatic encounter atop a Hong Kong skyscraper is full of explosions and cool moments, but "Push" spends so much of its time pushing a dull plot-conspiracy plot-heavy franchise set up, it never allows to gel. The final ending is a flat out dud. C+