Premium Rush - 3 smiles

See “Premium Rush” for the adrenalin-inducing scenes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s bicycle messenger character maneuvering through New York’s busiest streets at up to 50 mph, not for the rather contrived plot. Director David Koepp wisely keeps our attention focused on Wilee (Gordon-Levitt) and his colleagues as they dodge cars, taxis, school buses, pedestrians, baby carriages and other looming obstacles. And Koepp adds stylistic touches, such as Wilee’s multiple split-second visions of the outcome of any given maneuver: If he goes this way, he hits a pedestrian. If he goes that way, he gets hit by a taxi. But if he goes a third way, he’s clear. Wilee’s last assignment of the day is to get an envelope from Nima (Jamie Chung), who works at Columbia Law School, where Wilee used to be a student. Within minutes of securing the envelope, Wilee is approached by a stranger who identifies himself as a school official and attempts to reclaim the package. The stranger is actually a corrupt NYPD detective Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon at his menacing best). When Wilee refuses, Monday chases Wilee all over town even though you have to wonder how Monday in a car manages to keep track of Wilee on a bike.

In a less interesting subplot, Wilee has a rivalry going with fellow bike messenger Manny (Wole Parks). Each considers himself the hottest biker around and both are interested in co-worker Vanessa (Dania Ramirez). Gordon-Levitt spends nearly the entire movie on his bike, which makes for dynamic sequences through traffic-choked streets and I’m sure if you know New York, you’d appreciate it even more. So in spite of improbable events and far-fetched plot points, like a flash mob of bike messengers ready to help Wilee, it’s easy to enjoy this end-of-summer actioner.  8/24/12