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Pushing Dead

By Golu
This film is so much more than what the summary of the film suggests. I think the summary covers only about 15% of what this film is trying to be. I am not saying that its a good thing, but I have a problem, when the makers try to promote their film as something which its not. Being promoted as a film about a man who suddenly has his medical insurance suspended and has to struggle for his HOV meds is talked about at a ,maximum 20% of the film. There is so much more happening here.

Dan, has been HIV positive for over 22 years, but still finds a stigma attached to it and is very uncomfortable talking about this to anyone at all. When he deposits a $100 birthday check from his mom, it pushes him out of his low income bracket and he is subsequently pushed out of his healthcare plan. His medicines are now going to cost him thousands of dollars. We meet Dan's roommate, a girl who is his best friend and has always been supportive of him in every step of the way. We also meetDan's boss Bob, who has been kicked out of home by his wife and who has been getting a lot of emotional support by Dan. Dan also meets a nice guy at the doctors office. They talk and meet a few times and finally Dan feels that he may have a chance at love once again, but eventually they backs out. 

I am just not sure what was this film trying to be. A dark comedy, a statement on the US health system, story of people living with HIV, friendship or something else? The script is neither serious nor funny and the script is very fragmented and all over the place. The only reason anyone can sit through this film is because of a very good performance by Dan and his charm. He is lonely and isolated but also has a charming support system of his best friend and a boss who cares for him. The biggest culprit here is story and how it all connects together. It drags on and on from time to time and you keep wondering where this is headed. His medical insurance issues gets magically resolved without him having to do much. Overall a disappointment. (3.5/10)
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