A Thomas Bess review of:
Directed By: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Lyndsy Fonseca, Clark Duke
Run Time: 117 minutes spent wondering just how much carnage a thirteen year old girl can unleash.
Before we get started on the review proper, many kudos to my buddy Will for getting early passes to Kick-Ass. Sure I was listed as “Guest Of”, but hey, since I’m impersonating a movie reviewer these days, it’s nice to do things they do from time to time, like see flicks before they actually hit the theaters. Oh and though I’d wager she’ll never read this, just as many kudos to the lady running the show who was bringing the hammer down on dolts messing with their cell phones even after several warnings not to do so. While it’s a far cry from my preferred solution of having heavily armed guards patrolling the theater OR severe electric shocks jolted through the seats of the offending party, it’s still nice to see the management reminding the drooling masses that some of us still go to the movies to… watch a movie. Sorry, I’ll save the rant on the decline of the theater-going populace for another time. For now, where was I? Oh yeah, Kick-Ass. Despite the rather kid friendly tone set by the trailers, this is a hard R story with a level of violence comparable to the likes of Sin City or 300, albeit executed with such humor that it’s hard not to beam even when thugs are being slaughtered by the truckload.
The story, for those of you who haven’t been inundated with the previews and such, goes a little something like this. Dave Lizewski (Johnson) is a normal, slightly geeky high school student who, after witnessing one too many acts of petty meanness, has an “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore” moment and promptly dons a scuba suit, grabs a baton and decides to fight crime under the name of, wait for it, Kick-Ass. The results, while not suitably epic, bring several other capes out of the woodwork, including the goofy but well funded Red Mist (Mintz-Plasse) and the also goofy, but deadly capable Big Daddy (Cage) and Hit Girl (Moretz). Thanks to a heroic case of mistaken identity, mob boss Frank D’Amico (Strong) thinks Kick-Ass is trying to bring down his empire, which leads to Dave’s alter-ego taking a whole lot of beatings all while trying to learn the ins and outs of super heroics and not end up splattered all over the sidewalks of New York. Along the way comic traditions will be honored, then turned on their ear and oh yes, asses will be kicked with a thoroughness and intensity that will impress even the most jaded of viewers.
So what’s good? There’s a whole lot to like here, but first and foremost I gotta give credit to Jane Goldman and director Matthew Vaughn for a stellar screenplay. As mentioned above, this is a story that is extremely respectful of comic book conventions (as in story conventions, not geekly gatherings) but not so in love with them that they won’t offer them up for lampooning and good natured mockery. This lends a delightful unpredictability to the proceedings — every time you think you know where things are heading, the story makes an abrupt left, but they all make sense within context, it’s not just weird for the sake of weird. On the casting end of things, Aaron Johnson is quite good as the titular hero — very much a geek, but not so much that you enjoy watching him get pounded. In fact, I’d wager you’ll feel every shot he takes and cheer all the louder when he finally starts hitting back. His supporting heroes do an excellent job too. Red Mist is a putz, but his heart is in the right place, Big Daddy is like Batman if Bruce Wayne had never taken that whiny “no killing” vow and that goes double for Hit Girl who gets special mention for being the most violent tween ever put to celluloid. Seriously, the body count she racks up would make hardened slashers step back and clap their hands. Oh and while I doubt many folks will be going to see this one for the gore, those who appreciate the red stuff will find MUCH to enjoy in the various stabbings, slashings, gougings, shootings, and full body explosions (that last one compliments of an industrial microwave. Awesome!)
But what’s not good? Honestly, I had such a good time with this flick that it’s difficult to come up anything more than quibbles, but since the Atomik Brain Canisters demand proper tribute, I’ll do my best. First off, for a movie titled Kick-Ass, our be-scuba suited hero spends an awful lot of time playing second fiddle to the more seasoned pair of Big Daddy and Hit Girl. In a similar vein, those who come in thinking that Kick-Ass is going to have a series of increasingly impressive costumed triumphs will probably be disappointed as he experiences a bit of initial success, then gets the snot beat out of him for the next few acts before rising to the occasion when it counts most. Also, while it’s not a complaint on my part, if there are parents reading this review (stop snickering, there could be) thinking about taking their kids who love super heroes, let’s just put the kibosh on that right now. Aside from the language and intense violence, there’s a dark side on display here — victory can be hollow and it comes with a high price in the form of lost loved ones, betrayal from friends and heaps of punishment from people who’d be just fine dumping your body in an alley somewhere. So yeah, there’s lots of stuff here to get the kiddies attention, but keep them well away from it, you’ll thank me later.
Should you see it? Yes. Unless of course you have no appreciation of comics, are easily offended or can’t find a reliable babysitter. And if it’s only the last problem that’s keeping you from the cinema, you might consider settling for a disreputable babysitter. Really, it’s that good.
On the foot to ass scale, if awful is a swing and a miss and excellent is tasting shoe polish, then Kick-Ass is a swift kick in the pants, which is pretty goddamned good.
Til next time, always remember that the calls are coming from inside the house.
Tom Bess recently shaved his legendary sideburns at a cost of two hours and five pounds. The end result is a slightly puffier, but much more aerodynamic movie-reviewing machine who is still patiently waiting for Allison Mack to return his calls. While he’s waiting, he’ll read copious amounts of Lovecraft and eat too many Peach Gummy Bears.
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