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You don’t have to be a comic book geek to dream of being a superhero. Really, who wouldn’t love to be a hero—to rid the world of bullies or villainous bosses or backstabbing high school girls and be adored by millions for it? I could be MediaMaven, bringing worthwhile entertainment to the masses, while keeping them from wasting their hard-earned money on cheesy movies and bland books.
Then again, I guess I already am MediaMaven. So, in that case, director Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass gets MediaMedia’s whole-hearted endorsement.
Based on Matt Millar’s comic book series, Kick-Ass is the story of a geeky high school kid who decides to be a hero. Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) has always been perfectly ordinary, blending into the hallways at school, getting bullied by guys who are cooler and tougher than he is. Like his geeky friends, he dreams of saving the world and getting the girl, just like the heroes in his favorite comics. But, unlike his geeky friends, Dave actually decides to try it. He buys a green scuba suit, finds some cool-looking weapons, and dubs himself “Kick-Ass” before taking to the streets to rid New York of bad guys.
Of course, being a superhero isn’t easy—a lesson that Dave quickly learns the hard way. But after he’s caught on some guy’s phone while fighting off a couple of thugs, Kick-Ass becomes an overnight Internet sensation. Everyone loves him—except for bad guy Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), who thinks he’s responsible for the recent deaths of several of his goons. And when D’Amico decides to fight back, Kick-Ass is forced to fellow superheroes Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) and Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) for help.
But don’t let the nerdy guys in Spandex fool you. Kick-Ass isn’t just another comic book fanboy movie. Sure, comic fanboys will love it. In fact, they’ll travel in their geeky little fanboy packs to see it over and over again. They’ll recite lines and giggle until they snort Coke out of their noses (so it’s probably best to avoid sitting next to them).
But Kick-Ass is more than just a geeky high school comedy. That’s not to say it’s not funny—because it definitely is. In fact, it’s filled with so many hilarious bombshells that it’ll often shock the laughter right out of you. At the same time, though, the story is much deeper and darker than you’re probably expecting. The characters are surprisingly layered, too, and the action is ultra-violent. Yet it’s all artfully done, in true comic book superhero style, in crisp, vibrant colors and deep, shadowy blacks.
The cast, too, couldn’t be much better. Johnson’s Dave is lovably ordinary—the kind of geeky everyman that you can’t help but root for. And he’s supported by a talented team of young actors—some of my favorites, in fact—from Superbad’s Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Sex Drive’s Clark Duke to 500 Days of Summer’s little sister, Moretz (whose controversially grown-up language, incidentally, was probably just the slightest bit unnecessary). While the young stars may be getting all of the attention, though, the adult cast has no problem keeping up—especially Cage, who’s right at home playing the delightfully over-the-top Big Daddy.
With its brilliant cast, its unexpected story, and a healthy dose of humor, Kick-Ass is an adventure worthy of summer blockbuster season. It’s irreverently witty and unapologetically geeky—and its high-octane action will definitely kick your ass. It’s the kind of movie that makes MediaMaven’s job a whole lot of fun.
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