Comic-Con: Kick-Ass (2010)

The Dark Knight really opened up doors for every Tom, Dick, and Harry who is a director that wants to adapt a comic book story into a gritty crime drama.  Watchmen tried, and amidst mixed reviews, was hit and miss.  Then came along Matthew Vaughn, a relative unknown director who’s biggest work was Layer Cake (a british crime/drama starring Daniel Craig).  He also directed Stardust which was a fantastic bit of sci-fi/fantasy but it wasn’t a huge hit.  He then sold his adaptation of a small time comic book story, Kick-Ass, to Brad Pitt among others, which then led to Plan B Entertainment agreeing to shoot the film.  Universal Pictures along with Lionsgate agreed to distribute the movie, in which has led to one of the most successful, original comic-book film adaptations of all time.

Kick-Ass stars Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy) as Dave Lizewski, an abnormal teenager who’s about to graduate high-school but still hasn’t learned how to fit in with the “cool” kids.  He spends much of this time hanging out online and with his best friend Marty (the hilarious Clark Duke – Hot Tub Time Machine, Sex Drive).  One day Dave wonders why no one has ever decided to be a real life superhero, upon this thought he creates a costume, names himself “Kick-Ass”, and goes looking for crime to fight.  He gets into a fight that’s a little over his head, breaks nearly every bone in his body but in the process becomes nearly indestructible.  He uses his new found “super power” to branch out once again and seek bigger and better crime to fight.  He gets into another fight and while he’s literally kicking ass, he’s captured on film and eventually becomes a YouTube sensation.  After becoming a local celebrity he captures the attention of two professional crime fighters, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage, pretty much a badass through the entire movie), and his ass-kicking sidekick, his daughter, Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz, the real star of the film).  Big Daddy and Hit Girl are being hunted by crime boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong; Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood) because the two crime fighters keep disrupting his weapons arms dealings.  D’Amico’s son, Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse; Superbad, Role Models), decides to go into the superhero business as well, becoming Red Mist.

Kick-Ass is one of those movies, that while is action packed and full of blood and gore, never takes itself too seriously but at the same time takes the necessary measures to ensure the audience knows that it’s a comic-book adaptation.  Matthew Vaughn casting Aaron Johnson, who was a relative unknown actor before Kick-Ass, makes him seem genius.  Like I said previously however, Chloe Moretz steals the show as the 12 year old Hit Girl.  She’s foul mouthed, dangerous, and doesn’t take crap from anyone.  Some of the movies best scenes, action and otherwise, feature Mentz as Hit Girl kicking ass.  One scene in particular, a night vision assault on a weapons warehouse that is shot strictly in the view of “first person”, is one of the best action sequences I’ve seen in any movie quite some time.  Comic book movie or not.  At certain points the acting is far-fetched and a little over top, especially by Cage and Strong, but that’s the type of actors they are.  If you didn’t know Nic Cage was a little eccentric, you should probably see more movies.  The final battle sequence of Kick-Ass/Hit Girl vs. Red Mist is over the top, but like I said previously, this is a true comic book movie…it’s meant to be a little crazy in places.

It’s the fact that Kick-Ass is so beautifully written and gets such strong central performances from its main actors that it was such a great film.  Comic book movies are all the rage nowadays, which makes Matthew Vaughn confirming Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall, even more sweeter.  Oh yea, did I mention that Vaughn’s also directing next year’s X-Men: First Class?  Next summer is going to be quite the superhero time of year…Thor, Green Lantern, and X-Men: First Class.