Derivative ‘Push’ doesn’t pass the sniff test

In "Push," young folk with special psychic powers go on the run from government baddies, some of whom have similar gifts.

The movie belongs to what we might call a matrix of movies ("Jumper," "Wanted") and television shows ("Heroes") that have narrative roots dating back to the X-Men and beyond.

It's getting increasingly tough to distinguish yourself in this crowded field, but "Push" tries - it has a cool Hong Kong setting, and its own specialized lingo. There are psychics who can see the future (readers), others who can plant ideas in your head (pushers) or move objects (movers), and still others (sniffers) who can detect psychics trying to hide.

This last term prompts a funny line, when Djimon Hounsou, as the lead government baddie trying to round up runaway clairvoyants, makes the following demand: "Bring me every sniffer we have!"

It sounds like something a studio head might say, as he seeks approval and reassurance for the umpteenth variation on a well-trod theme. With its hierarchy of movers and shakers, pushers and sniffers, it sounds a lot like Hollywood, period.

Hounsou's character is on the hunt for two renegade psychics (Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans) who team up in Hong Kong to find another paranormal (Camilla Belle) who knows the location of a briefcase, the contents of which might end the government threat to their freedom and well-being.

The briefcase is also pursued by a group of Hong Kong super-brains, who have their own undisclosed reasons for chasing it.

The plot, as you might have guessed, gets very messy, and is further complicated by the way fortune-telling psychics can guess the next move of rival factions, even before they make it.

Henderson's character wonders if there's a way to keep these seers off balance.

"What if nothing we did made sense?"

Not a bad idea, but one that works too well.

The ending left me scratching my head, unsure of what had happened, but certain of one thing: The giant pile of loose ends means somebody intends to make a sequel. *

Produced by Bruce Davey, W*ll*am V*nce and Glenn W*ll*amson.