Premium Rush is a chase movie dressed up as a social commentary. It wants to be a tight, fast thriller about a bike messenger who gets caught up in a cross-border smuggling scheme, but the plot keeps slowing down to explain the stakes. The result is a film that is often thrilling and often slow, with a cast that sells the drama but a script that can’t quite keep up with its own energy.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Wilee, a Columbia Law School graduate who rides a bike instead of taking the bar exam because he hates the law. Michael Shannon plays Bobby Monday, a corrupt police detective who chases Wilee through New York City after he picks up an envelope that Monday wants. That’s the setup, and it’s a good one. The trouble starts when the film tries to explain why the envelope matters.
Trailer, via Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The Plot, Explained
Wilee’s ex-girlfriend, Vanessa, played by Dania Ramirez, runs a bike messenger service. Her roommate, Nima, played by Jamie Chung, pays $50,000 to Mr. Leung, a Chinese hawaladar, to buy a ticket. That ticket is meant for Sister Chen, who runs a gang smuggling her son and mother into the United States. Monday, a gambling addict, learns of the ticket and tries to trick Wilee into giving it to him. Wilee refuses, but Monday is a cop, and he chases Wilee across the city.
The chase is where the film works. Gordon-Levitt rides a bike with real skill, and the city becomes a character in itself. The problem is the rest of the story. Every time the chase slows down to explain who Nima is or what Sister Chen’s gang does, the film loses momentum.
Shannon’s Pursuit
Michael Shannon plays Monday as a man who is both terrifying and strangely funny. He’s a cop who chases Wilee through traffic, past pedestrians, and across the city, and Shannon makes him feel like a living force of nature. The film trusts him enough to show the chase from Monday’s point of view, which is a smart choice.
But the script doesn’t always trust Shannon. When the film explains that Monday is a gambling addict, it feels like a device to explain his behavior rather than a character detail. The same goes for the plot’s other complications. The hawaladar, the smugglers, and the ticket all feel like they exist to give the chase a reason, not to enrich the story.
Gordon-Levitt on a Bike
Joseph Gordon-Levitt carries the film. He plays Wilee as a man who has given up on his life, and the chase gives him a reason to fight. His performance is physical and a little funny, and he makes Wilee feel alive even when the script asks him to explain things he already knows.
The other performances are solid. Dania Ramirez grounds the film as Vanessa, and Jamie Chung gives Nima a quiet intensity. Wolé Parks, Aasif Mandvi, and the rest of the cast fill out the city without stealing the focus. The film is a showcase for a large ensemble, and it mostly works.
Where It Falls Short
The plot is the problem. The film spends too much time explaining the smuggling scheme and the ticket’s value, and it never quite brings the pieces together into a satisfying whole. The chase scenes are the best parts, but they get stretched thin by the exposition. The film is a chase movie that keeps stopping to tell you why the chase matters.
The film also leans on a premise that is thin. A bike messenger who gets caught up in a smuggling scheme is a good hook, but the film spends too much time explaining the scheme and not enough time letting the chase breathe. The result is a film that is often thrilling and often slow.
| Element | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Chase scenes | Tight, thrilling | Too short |
| Character work | Solid performances | Flat exposition |
| Plot | Interesting premise | Too much explaining |
A Solid, Not Great, Chase Film
Premium Rush is a solid action thriller with a strong cast and a premise that could have been better. The chase scenes are the film’s best moments, and Michael Shannon’s performance as Monday is a standout. But the plot is too complicated, and the film never quite delivers the tension it promises.
The film is a good example of what happens when a chase movie gets too caught up in its own plot. The chase scenes are the reason to watch, but the rest of the film keeps slowing them down.
Premium Rush is a mixed bag. It’s a film that is sometimes thrilling and sometimes slow, with a cast that sells the drama and a script that can’t quite keep up. The chase scenes are the best part, and the rest of the film is a little flat.
The film is a good, not great, action thriller. It has a strong cast, a solid premise, and some truly thrilling moments, but it never quite delivers the tension it promises. It’s worth watching for the chase, but don’t expect a masterpiece.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
