Review #506 - Kick-Ass (2010)
THE SCOOP
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloë Grace Moretz
Plot: Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.
Genre: Action / Comedy / Drama
Awards: -
Runtime: 117min
Rating: M18 for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use - some involving children.
IN RETROSPECT (Spoilers: NO)
Has
anyone tried kicking their own ass? It’s
technically very difficult and requires a skillful contortion of the foot. I can’t do it, but I think it feels good to
have your ass kicked once in a while. That
is why Matthew Vaughn’s latest film is such a welcoming presence. Kick-Ass kicks ass and it is your ass that is
on the line. Leave your ass there. Be
kicked and enjoy the show.
Vaughn’s
film is a roaring delight. It is a
decent popcorn film that will mostly please the male demographic. But it is also a film that finds itself riding
too much on clichés and references from the comic book-cum-superhero genre. Actually, that is part of the fun of watching Kick-Ass. But
during parts when the film goes “original” and tries to develop its main
characters and plot, it works out as quite flat and uninspired.
Kick-Ass stars Aaron Johnson as Dave
Lizewski. Dave is a college student who
leads a normal (read: boring) life. He
is plain-looking, doesn’t have luck with girls, and like any comic book geek,
he fantasizes of becoming a superhero. No
big deal. Until he dons a green wetsuit
with a mask and calls himself Kick Ass. He
gets into the thick of action and tries to prevent crime and finds that he is
not at all ready for the responsibility, if any, bestowed upon him by himself.
In a
parallel story, a father-daughter partnership wreaks havoc against the brutal
Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong) and his men. Their motive is revenge. Nicholas Cage plays Big Daddy and Chloe Moretz
plays Hit Girl, superhero wannabes who actually have an array of destructive
firepower at their disposal. Ever seen
an 11-year old girl violently slaughter a gang of hitmen? If Quentin Tarantino ever decides to make a
superhero movie, this would be it – violent, vulgar, and a hell lot of fun.
Vaughn
has made an entertaining parody of a popular genre. There’s no doubt about it. If I may be kind, the film’s high amusement
factor distracts viewers from the paper-thin characters. You may not feel it during the film, but when
the final shot suggests a possible sequel, ask yourself this: Are you going to
watch that sequel because you had such a fun time with the first? Or is it because Kick Ass and Co. have so
little character development among themselves that you desire to know more
about them? Maybe it’s both.
Vaughn’s track record has been commendable thus far. His first two features were Layer Cake (2004) and Stardust (2007). Comparatively, Kick-Ass ranks as a minor disappointment. But it is still compulsively watchable. And the fact that kids aren’t supposed to be allowed to watch this adds to the oh-so guilty pleasure.
GRADE: B
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