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Premium Rush Review

Release Date: Aug 24, 2012
Rated: Some Violence, Language and Intense Action Sequences
Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller
Director:David Koepp
Cast:Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez, Jamie Chung, Lauren Ashley Carter. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

4.0

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Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

4.0

66

out of 100

Metascore^®
Generally favorable reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
70

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter John DeFore
A quick pace and always-enjoyable lead Joseph Gordon-Levitt will please moviegoers, even if the picture's ticking-clock approach isn't as invigoratingly pulpy here as in the Koepp-penned "Snake Eyes" and "Panic Room."

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75

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
Despite far-fetched plot points - such as a flash mob of bike messengers ready to rumble and thwart evil - it's easy to get caught up in this life-or-death two-wheeled slalom.

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75

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
Premium Rush earns its place as end-of-the-summer escapism, but I can't say that it's more than a well-done formula flick. At this point, it's just one more movie-as-ride. But this one at least lives up to its title.

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88

out of 100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
You're looking for depth and profundity, this is the wrong movie. But under the direction of David Koepp ("Secret Window," the screenplays for "Mission: Impossible" and "Spider-Man"), this is an expert and spellbinding adventure.

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 14+

High-octane action sustains thin plot in teen-friendly film.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Premium Rush is an exhilarating thriller filled with bone-crunching bike-and-car chases and crashes and a few physical confrontations (some with firearms involved). Bike messengers (including one played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) weave in and out of traffic at a dangerous, sometimes cringe-inducing pace. So you can expect plenty of accident scenes, including one that shows a man falling under the wheels of an oncoming vehicle. There's also some swearing (one "f--k," plus "s--t," "a--hole," etc.) and a bit of kissing/flirting and social drinking.

Families can talk about how Premium Rush's tension compares to bloodier violence in other movies. Which has more of an impact on you? Why?
Why do you think bike messengers ride around cities at such a dangerous clip? What's in it for them? Are the motivations presented here believable?
Is Wilee an admirable character? Why?

The good stuff

Messages: You can't hesitate: When someone's in trouble, you do what you can for people in need.
Role models: Wilee is kind, if reckless. He's willing to help, even if it means his life could be thrown in danger. All the bikers share a great camaraderie.

What to watch for

Violence: Lots of peril/tense scenes as bike messengers navigate New York's dangerous streets, darting through cars and trucks at full speed. They're frequently at risk, and they have bad -- sometimes deadly -- crashes (one scene shows someone falling under a vehicle's wheels). A man with a bad temper strikes without hesitation without provocation. He's shown beating someone up, causing the man's death. Another man shoots someone point blank.
Sex: Kissing, flirting, and some sexual innuendo.
Language: Strong language includes one use of "f--k," plus many uses of "s--t," "p---y," "damn," "bitch," "douchebag," "a--hole," "hell," "goddamn," "oh my God," and more. A guy gives another the finger.
Consumerism: Brands/logos are seen everywhere as bikes whiz through New York City: Chase Bank, Rite-Aid, Amalgamated Bank, and more.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some social drinking in bars among adult co-workers.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.