Movie Review: Kick-Ass

by Justin Velasquez           

April 18, 2010

The comic book film genre adds another feature to its quickly-expanding catalog.  This time the viewer is treated to a film that is supposed to poke fun at superheroes but inadvertently becomes very much a superhero film itself.

Matthew Vaughn, a producer-director with films like Layer Cake and Snatch under his belt, stretches out of those confines to bestow upon us his take on superheroes.  Kick-Ass incorporates elements from The Dark Knight, The Punisher, the Kill Bill films, The Incredibles and the aforementioned Layer Cake, and turns all conventionalism on its head.  This film is violent, vulgar, outlandish and unbelievable.  But it's still fun and enjoyable, as long as you're not too objectionable a viewer.

Young Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson, Nowhere Boy) is a normal teenager living a fairly ordinary life.  He's not a popular kid in high school and lives with just father since his mother died recently of an aneurysm.  Dave is quiet and unassuming; he's essentially alone while he tries to maneuver through his childhood unscathed.  Dave has a love for comic books that sends his imagination running wild.  He lives vicariously through those imaginary characters and devises a plan to become a superhero (well, one without superpowers) so that he may go out and help those in need.  He dubs himself Kick-Ass and thanks to his intervention of what would've been a malicious beating he becomes an internet sensation.  Pretty soon he's a celebrity and uses a MySpace account he created to tend to the needs of the people.  What Dave initially thought was fun and thrilling, though, turns deadly serious as the city's most successful criminal, Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong, Sherlock Holmes), wants the vigilante dead. 

Thanks to his groundbreaking move, a couple of other superheroes pop up.  One superhero is Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Superbad), a budding sidekick who seems to be more of a flashy rockstar looking to grab the spotlight rather than a superhero seeking justice for all.  He may also prove to be Kick-Ass' biggest archrival since he does have ulterior motives for their collaboration.  The second is an actual duo - the 11-year old Hit -Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz, (500) Days of Summer) and her father, Big Daddy (Academy Award winner Nicholas Cage).  Hit-Girl and Big Daddy are the real deal as they adopt a crusade to bring D'Amico to justice, while at the same time look to exact revenge.  Their introduction to the audience only supports the pair's intensity and insanity - they are not to be messed with.  With all of these storylines floating around it might be hard to keep up but Vaughn ties it up neatly (i.e., violently) with a classic good versus evil power struggle. 

With a film like Kick-Ass, the producers have to be keen on immediately satisfying the fanboys.  The comic was created in 2008 by writer Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita Jr. and has enjoyed a faithful following.  Having never read the comic I've had to rely on those same fans to assure me that this film is very accurate to the comic.  Some believe that it's the most faithful film adaptation of a comic - ever.  Fair enough, so if the film is any indication, then maybe comics have gotten much more violent since I was kid.  The film is fierce and unforgiving with the action and there's nothing cartoonish about it.  Add to that the idea that most of the violence (and foul language) is administered by Hit-Girl and you have a film that can be seen as either incredibly hilarious or undeniably vulgar, most likely both. 

Kick-Ass, in the long run, will be more of a cult and fanboy favorite than a film for the masses.  It received an R-rating, and justifiably so, because of the inconceivable and rather genius ways that some of the bad guys are dispatched.  It's definitely not for children, especially those under ten, as both the language and actions of these youngsters can easily set a bad example.  Think South Park with less camp, less humor (at least a different kind of humor), more bloodshed and superhero outfits and you've got the gist.

Production values in this project are high and well-done and Vaughn (who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman) is further developing his directing style here.  Those familiar with Layer Cake will notice a similar tone and gravitas in this feature.  Acting is so-so with the best performance coming from Mark Strong (he's quickly becoming the go-to actor for bad guy roles as he's Russell Crowe's adversary in the rebooted Robin Hood), but it's safe to say that both Aaron Johnson and Chloe Grace Moretz will use this as a springboard to even bigger projects in the future.

Kick-Ass is a fun film to watch that is much better if you leave your conscience and morals at the door.  What will give this a more lasting impression is the film's plausibility... one day you just may see a viral video on YouTube of a costumed vigilante saving someone's life.  And that idea alone makes this a more interesting film to watch.

Three Stars out of Four