Simply put, Kick-Ass is not only one of the best superhero films ever made, it’s easily one of the best films in recent years. It’s hard to describe exactly what type of film Kick-Ass is. Is it a comedy? Yes. Is it an action flick? Yes. But honestly, Kick-Ass is a mish mash of the last decade of pop culture and film, resulting in a truly unique and rewarding experience.
The story follows Dave Lizewski, a geeky high schooler who’s grown sick of his boring life. As a result, he dons a scuba suit and fights crime. Awesome, right? He quickly becomes an internet sensation, and attracts the attention of both a violent mob boss and other superheroes in the area. The plot sounds simple enough, but what makes it work is the fact that it never falls into typical stereotypes and conventions. The film constantly coerces the viewer into thinking its going the way of the typical superhero plot, but then does something entirely different. It’s not afraid to break conventions and rules, and its in-your-face, rebellious attitude is what sets this film apart from your average trip to the theater.
Like I mentioned before, Director Matthew Vaughn manages to fill Kick-Ass with the styles of directors before him. You can’t deny that there is clear influence from John Woo and Quentin Tarantino, and some scenes are direct homages to classic action films. There’s no doubt Kick-Ass will garner Vaughn as a sought-after director in the future, as the style and charm with which he presents the film will surely make him stand out as one of the top pop cinema directors of our time.
While the film is called Kick-Ass, I would almost argue that it should be called Hit-Girl. Chloe Moretz’s depiction of the eleven year old Hit-Girl is by far the standout performance of the movie, and I’m sure if you’ve heard anything about Kick-Ass, its been pertaining to her. The vulgar and violent tween will undoubtedly become a pop culture icon, and Moretz’s performance has solidified her as an actress to be taken seriously. The rest of the cast is superb, with Nicholas Cage delivering a hilarious performance as Big-Daddy and Aaron Johnson really bringing the titular character to life. Kick-Ass see’s Nicholas Cage on the rise from a career period of relative “eh”, as well as the beginning of what I can see being a successful career for both the two young leads.
I really don’t have anything negative to say about Kick-Ass. I absolutely loved every minute of it, and I’m going to recommend it to everyone I know. In fact, I’ll probably go see again tonight. My only complaint would lie in a mix of the film’s marketing and the criticism its garnered from some facets of society. I heard a lot of confusion from people who had seen the advertisements for Kick-Ass, and most thought the film was a “superhero movie for kids” or a “funny comic book movie”. Sure, the latter may be true, but Kick-Ass is definitely not for kids. I don’t think most people realize exactly how graphic and violent the movie is, and I think this is really a fault of the marketing campaign. Most of the criticism the film has received so far is in regards to Hit-Girl. I can understand how an eleven year old girl swearing like a sailor and killing bad guys can be seen as problematic. I’ll admit that I even felt the occasional sense of discomfort watching her do some of the things she does in the movie. And yet, the majority of the time I was cheering and laughing for her. The fact of the matter is that this is a movie, and movies (in most cases) are meant to be an escape from reality. Vaughn isn’t condoning pre-teen violence, and I personally don’t see her role as exploitation. Will an eleven year old killer influence today’s youth? Unlikely. Kick-Ass has an R-rating for a reason, and the likelihood that its influence will be greater than any other hyper-violent R flick is slim. Criticize the film all you want, but the creators aren’t to blame. Blame irresponsible parents and theaters that don’t adhere to the law.
Controversy aside, you’ve probably already figured out where my verdict is heading. Go see Kick-Ass. It’s a gem of modern filmmaking and a one of the most fun two hours you’ll spend in a theater this year.
Let me know what you thought about the movie, Hit-Girl, and anything else in the comments below!
