“IT’S A KICK”
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicolas Cage and Omari Hardwick
Directed By: Matthew Vaughn
MPAA Rating: R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use – some involving children.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Adaptation and Teen
Release Date: April 16, 2010
By John Delia Jr.
The main character in Kick-Ass Dave Lizewski opens the film with, “I always wondered why no one did it before me?†Did you ever wonder why no one has ever really tried to be a super hero? It can’t be hard, you just need a cool costume, the desire to defend the innocent, and just want to kick some ass! We all know that super heroes are comic book characters like Spiderman, Wolverine, and Iron Man, but if you like to fantasize about being like them or just like watching movies with lots of violence, and predictable scenes with a script that makes you laugh, then you are a target for Kick-Ass.
The film has many interesting characters throughout, especially Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), aka Kick Ass, who narrates the film with some comical banter, interesting insights and the usual youth minded views. Dave along with his friends Marty (Clark Duke) and Todd (Evan Peters), live the average life of outcast teenagers who drown their lives in comic books and video games. During freak circumstances after attempting to do a good deed Dave becomes seriously beaten by some high school bullies that results in having metal placed all over the inside of his body during surgery giving Dave an illusion super strength. Kick Ass is born!
Meanwhile, a vengeance filled vigilante named Big
Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and his daughter called Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) team up to deal an unusual sense of justice on the world of corruption. Desiring to clean up crime in their city puts them in the middle of some intense situations with amazing action. Their invincibility seems unending until the realization that forming an alliance with Kick Ass stands more for justice than revenge.
Kick-Ass quickly gabbed my attention and it lasted throughout the film. I feel that the excellent story line, along with spectacular direction and exceptional acting are important factors to its success. The action and comedy in
the roles of Big Daddy and Hit Girl are well performed and steals the show. The comedy throughout, especially during some the action scenes, are well placed and kept me along with the audience laughing. The designed violent humor, usual super hero type dialog, and desires of revenge feed this film, but the director Matthew Vaughn also keeps the audiences attention by letting them know that what they expect is what is really going to happen.
Since this movie has an R Rating and contains a lot of violence and language, I feel that the film works exceptionally well for ages 17 and above. I recommend this film and would actually go and see it again.
5 of 5 Palm Trees (Guest writer John Delia, Jr can be reached for comment at reviewbuzz1@gmail.com)