PREMIUM RUSH (2012) Movie Review

Never have I seen a film that portrays the mean streets of New York better than Premium Rush, and there is no place better to tell this story. This is a story about community, a group of people who provide back up for each other in times of distress. In the mean streets of New York, it is important to have people on whom to rely.

The story of Premium Rush follows a bike messenger, Wiley, through the city where he meets an obstacle around every corner: cars, pedestrians, cops, thieves, and competitive colleagues. If that isn’t hard enough, the public opinion of bike messengers alienates them from the rest of the city. That is why it imperative for messengers to stick together. It redefines the term thankless job. Anyone who have been in a thankless position would appreciate this story.

When Wiley’s delivery assignment becomes a life threatening situation, he knows he can count of his community to back him up.

However, there can be a downside to this scenario. There are dangers to relying to much on community. Nima, a college student from China, is desperate to reunite with her son. Two years, three jobs, and $50,000 later, she is able to arrange a transport for him. She is willing to rely on a Chinese gang for help, yet she refuses to accept help from her friends and fellow students.

Extreme circumstances leave her no choice than to accept outside help. Without Wiley she has no chance of success, for he is more than a bike messenger. He is dedicated to his work, he has a strength of character, and he is a law school graduate. He is the most reliable person in Nima’s life. He is Nima’s hero.

Trust is a hard thing to come by these days, especially in New York. It is important to remember there are still good people in the world. Reliable, trustworthy people. They are easy to identify in times of distress, because they are the ones who stay by your side despite any petty disputes, vendettas, or competition.

Premium Rush serves as an excellent example of what it means to have reliable people in extreme circumstances.