Kick-Ass Review

Rated R (Strong Brutal Violence Throughout, Pervasive Language, Sexual Content, Nudity and Some Drug Use—Some involving Children)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 57 Minutes

Cast:

Aaron Johnson-Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass

Chloë Grace Moretz-Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl

Christopher Mintz-Plasse-Chris D'Amico/Red Mist

Nicolas Cage-Damon Macready/Big Daddy

Mark Strong-Frank D'Amico

Lyndsy Fonseca-Katie Deauxma

Clark Duke-Marty

Evan Peters-Todd

Sophie Wu-Erika Cho

Xander Berkeley-Detective Gigante

Omari Hardwick-Sergeant Marcus Williams

Garrett M. Brown-Mr. Lizewski

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

You don't want to mess with these superheroes!

How many of you comic book reading geeks have dreamed of suiting up and helping people? “Kick-Ass“, based upon the comic of the same name, written by Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita, Jr. arrived into theaters April 16, taking a hilariously satirical, often bloody look at what happens when regular folks like us dress up in garish costumes and call themselves superheroes. In a way, it reminds me of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s “Watchmen,” which was also turned into a film adaptation last year courtesy of Zack Snyder. The main difference is that Moore sought to make a philosophical statement about superheroes while Millar is poking fun at the genre’s clichés. Some people will decry that the film is ‘morally reprehensible’ but for everyone else, “Kick-Ass” is the best film of 2010 so far and the first comic book film to rival “The Dark Knight” thanks to its gleefully sharp dialogue, sickening bloody violence and an incredibly memorable Chloë Grace Moretz as the purple-haired, katana-wielding Hit-Girl.

Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) is your typical, everyday teenager. He loves reading comic books and, like any geek, has few friends, no girlfriend, and tends to masturbate a little too much. One day, his love of comics inspires him to become a real-life superhero, donning a green wet suit and mask, he becomes Kick-Ass! However, his first attempt to stop a crime goes horribly wrong. Two thugs beat him to within an inch of his life and stab him. As he struggles to remain conscious, Dave is hit by a car. After intense rehabilitation and surgery, Dave finds that he can’t resist being Kick-Ass and is soon back patrolling the streets. While looking for a neighbor’s cat, he comes upon a group of thugs beating up a man. Without hesitation, Dave leaps to his rescue and the whole event finds its way to YouTube. Kick-Ass has become an internet sensation and overnight celebrity. His heroics soon inspire other people to don costumes. Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage) and his 11-year old daughter, Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) are going after mob boss, Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong) and Kick-Ass soon finds himself way over his head.

I finished reading the comic mere minutes before the film started and for the most part, director Matthew Vaughn doesn’t veer too far from the source, although certain events are rearranged or cut for pacing. I found “Kick-Ass” to ask several interesting questions, one of which is why people often stand and watch when someone is hurt rather than actually helping them. Early in the film, Dave and his friend are mugged and although a man living nearby sees this, he does nothing to stop it. As Kick-Ass, Dave saves a man from being brutally beaten and one of the thugs ask him if he’s crazy for saving a total stranger. He retorts that everyone is just watching and doing nothing yet he’s the one pegged as crazy. Most won’t admit this but it’s human nature that people are apathetic of other’s suffering when it does not affect them. Real-life superheroes are not as unusual as you might believe, but what motivates people to dress up in ridiculous tights and lend a helping hand to their fellow man? Dave’s intentions are both noble and selfish as he’s tired of watching people like him getting pushed around but he also wants fame and a girlfriend. Of course, he later finds out how life threatening and crazy being a costumed avenger really is but gets addicted to the thrill of it, comparing himself to serial killers! There’s also the fact that today’s technology connects us in such a way that information is literally at our fingertips, allowing attention seekers to become overnight sensations due to YouTube, Facebook or MySpace. For the most part, the plot is really nothing special; the way it’s presented is what sets it apart from typical comic book films. The dialogue is sharp and witty, including humorous nods to popular superheroes such as Batman, Spider-Man and Wolverine. The language is often vulgar but oh-so hilarious.

Despite much of the cast being unknowns, the acting is superb. Aaron Johnson is made to look like Peter Parker and his character speaks to the inner geek that exists within all of us. His role is the most difficult because any number of things can make his performance not seem genuine, but right from the start we empathize with his frustrations and root for him when he is being brutally tortured to a bloody pulp by D'Amico’s thugs. Of course, he (and everyone else) is overshadowed by the amazing Chloë Grace Moretz as the foul-mouthed Hit-Girl. Her introduction is wildly over-the-top and reminiscent of the Bride from Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill.” She slices her way through numerous bad guys, hacking off limbs and wielding enough weapons to take on a small army! There’s been some controversy about depicting an 11-year old girl killing people without batting an eye, with one UK review describing her as ‘one of the most disturbing icons and damaging role-models in the history of cinema.’ Look, children shouldn’t even be viewing this film in the first place and if they are, it’s the parents being irresponsible. Playing her father is Nicholas Cage as Big Daddy, whose origin is reminiscent of Batman, going so far as to don a costume very similar to the one from “The Dark Knight” and emulating Adam West. Forever known as McLovin’ from “Superbad,” Christopher Mintz-Plasse is Red Mist, another homegrown superhero who revels in his newfound celebrity and in classic comic book fashion, ends up as Kick-Ass’ nemesis. Finally, there’s Mark Strong as mob boss Frank D'Amico, who continues to excel in playing villain roles (he was last seen in last year’s “Sherlock Holmes”). The action is bloody and not for the faint of heart; Kick-Ass gets stabbed, punched and kicked throughout the film. Hit-Girl is later brutally beaten around in the film’s climax. Yet all of it still screams ‘awesome!’

Released into theaters on April 16, 2010, “Kick-Ass” has received largely positive reviews with 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics described it as taking ‘the comic adaptation genre to new levels of visual style, bloody violence, and gleeful profanity’. Some wrote off the film as tasteless and Roger Ebert gave it one star out of four. I love Ebert but this time I vehemently disagree with him. The comic and film script was written at the same time and had to be independently financed because studios wanted the violence toned down. Filmed on a budget of $30 million, “Kick-Ass” has the potential to hit the $100 million mark due to strong word-of-mouth. The audience response when the credits rolled was highly enthusiastic. I haven’t watched a comic book film this good since “The Dark Knight” and “Kick-Ass” definitely kicks the ass out of other movies featuring more recognizable superheroes. Looks like “Iron Man 2” has found a worthy challenger! There’s really nothing more I can say about this film except that you HAVE to go see it and for those people who are worried about being ‘morally righteous,’ shut the f*ck up and go KICK ASS!

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"Okay you cunts...let’s see what you can do now!"