Following in Jodie Foster and Natalie Wood’s footsteps, Dakota Fanning is growing up on screen before our very eyes. Push gives Fanning a chance to show her acting chops as a teenager -- and she definitely delivers the goods. In fact, she’s the only reason to see this messed up sci-fi thriller about people with special abilities who struggle against the Division, a governmental agency with evil intentions. 

Fanning (Dreamer) plays Cassie Holmes, a “Watcher” who can see into the future. She meets up with Nick Gant (Chris Evans), a “Mover” hiding out in Hong Kong. Nick, whose power involves telekinesis, hopes to avoid detection because he witnessed the murder of his father by Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou), a Division big wig. Cassie tells Nick they must find Kira (Camilla Belle), a woman with the key to an important carrying case, or face their own deaths. The rest of Push deals with actions taken by Nick and Cassie to defeat Carver. (Because things are quite muddled in this confusing movie, my idea of what was happening here might not be totally accurate.)

Almost always, if Fanning appears in a film, her performance is the one that captures my attention. In Push, she brings her usual “sad old soul in a young body” aura to the role of Cassie. But this time, there’s plenty of saucy attitude to go with it. Plus she looks fascinating with her multi-colored hair and grungy teenage outfit. As in many of her  films, Fanning comes across as more mature than the other characters, no matter what their ages.         

Although an admirer of Chris Evans’ fine work in movies like Fantastic Four and Cellular, I found his acting in Push somewhat lacking in intensity. However, this could be because of a highly confusing script. Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) makes a satisfactory villain, but the gorgeous Camilla Belle (When a Stranger Calls) fails to connect as a woman in distress. SPOILER ALERT: Still, Belle’s Kira is called upon to change from one type of person to another, and that’s not easy to do, even for veteran actors.  

Sadly, this disappointing movie suffers from more than a baffling script. It also contains too many loud special effects, substandard action sequences, and the most distracting background music since Thief. And yet, because of Fanning’s watchable performance, I’m glad I saw Push.

 (Released by Summit Entertainment and rated “PG-13” for intense sequences of violence and action, brief strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking.)