Sometimes, I change my review on second viewing. I now give this movie higher marks. To answer the question in my heading - No. Everything seemed perfect in Nick Falzone's life until Russell arrived. He was high performing as an air traffic controller. But Nick was not a good person. He may have not cheated yet on his wife, but he was stuck on his ego and career. The movie did a good job showing how stressful the job an air traffic controller is. Along comes the wacky Russell who is eccentric, but cool as a cucumber. Nick discovers that he is not so perfect as an air traffic controller. He has a one night stand with Russell's wife more just because he is jealous of Russell.
Nick becomes unglued and is almost permanently fired. He goes crazy in belief that Russell is to blame. Finally, Nick realizes that Russell has something to him with that absolute calm under all kinds of pressure. Nick seeks Russell out for help, and Russell reveals two things to Nick - Firstly, It is the stress of the job that is messing things up for both himself and Nick. Russell admits that beneath the cool exterior his life too has been changed just by all the stress of the job. Secondly, Russell makes Nick stand on a runway and not flinch when a jet lands just a few feet over his head. Lesson is to not try to control things. Let things happen. Plunge into life and let things fly as they will.
It was a decent movie now I see. My first review was not so kind. The ending was a little schmaltzy, but I suppose it fairness - it was a comedy after all. Lastly, we do not know whether or not Nick would survive the job in the end. We just know he had grown and was more at peace.
Review of Pushing Tin
