As superhero movies are becoming popular we’re starting to get all kinds of variations on this subject. Kick-Ass is not a classical superhero movie but a black comedy featuring a decent amount of action. It’s based on a graphic novel of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. We will be following an ordinary guy who decides to become a vigilante and fight crime. During one of his adventures, he will stumble upon a weird father/daughter vigilante tag team and the rest is history.
The opening scene perfectly sets the stage for what’s about to follow. We watch as a kid dressed as a superhero jumps to his death thinking he can fly. Some lessons are to be learned there. In this sense, you might say that Kick-Ass has a lot in common with The Other Guys. However, when it comes to weird takes on the superhero subgenre, the competition is quite stiff. We’ve got Defendor starring Woody Harrelson and Super starring Rain Wilson and both of these movies came out this year. A couple of years earlier, Special starring Michael Rapaport quietly entered the ring.
What sets Kick-Ass apart from all of these movies is the atmosphere. It’s delightfully vibrant and uplifting, although you kind of expect that from a movie that’s not taking itself too seriously. Secondly, there will be quite a few quite graphic scenes featuring a lot of blood and violence. Now, this is something I did not expect from a movie with a mainstream vibe. And that’s just the thing, Matthew Vaughn tried to get the money to make this movie but he was rejected by everyone. So he did it himself and then studios bought into the movie paying much more than they would’ve initially.
Dave is seemingly just another average teen who likes comic books. However, exactly because his heroes are superheroes fighting for what’s right, Dave decides to do something extraordinary. He decides to become a superhero himself! He starts prowling the streets looking for criminals and it doesn’t take him long to find them. The encounter doesn’t go well for him but it sets him on the right path. A path that’s going to lead him to the most unusual crime-fighting duo he’s ever seen.
Since our homeboy Dave Lizewski is still a high-schooler, you can count on all those familiar high-school things. Dave is in love with a hot girl, he masturbates profusely, and soon other students will start calling him gay. You have to remember that Kick-Ass is a movie featuring a heavy R rating. When it comes to the cast, I think we have a new star in Aaron Taylor-Johnson. He was excellent as Dave although Christopher Mintz-Plasse AKA McLuvin gave him a run for his money. Apart from them, Nic Cage was his usual crazy charming self and Chloë Grace Moretz was also quite good.
I still don’t know how I feel about a 12-year-old killing people with swords and shit but I guess at least it looks cool. The shit is bonkers, is that how you say that? The finale is just as crazy as the rest of the movie. Most of all it’s energetic and it’s going to leave you feeling pumped. I’m totally nailing these new cool words, am I? Finally, if you’re looking for more superhero movies that are a bit different, I urge you to check Watchmen.
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, Mark Millar
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Garrett M. Brown, Clark Duke, Evan Peters, Deborah Twiss, Mark Strong
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IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1250777/
