Kick-Ass (2010)
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Written by: Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage

America hasn’t really experienced the kid/teenager ultra-violence films that countries like Japan are familiar with. Which is probably why Kick-Ass is being marketed as a goofy comedy with McLovin. Holy shit it is not that movie.

The beginning of the film is very much an homage to superheroes. The dialogue, the sets, the situations, they all convey a deep love for comics and heroes that inhabit them. It’s funny, it’s quirky, and the characters are likable.

A lot of Kick-Ass is not funny. Not that it’s a failed comedy, it’s that the film takes a very dark and serious turn about halfway through. There are still comedic elements sprinkled throughout, but if you’re expecting a wacky satirical superhero comedy, you’re going to be a bit shocked. Hell, even knowing the film was supposed to be ultra violent didn’t prepare me for how insane it is to watch an 11-year-old dismember people.

But within the context of the film, it works. It not only works, it’s the logical progression of the plot. As we watch this nerd bumble his way through being a hero, then see shit go horribly wrong, there are really only a couple options. He can die (which he nearly does, a lot), or shit can get serious. So he teams up with a father-daughter team who are unstable, but hardcore. The action gets intense, and the movie starts to get uncomfortable at parts, but it’s compelling. I’ve never been frightened for the characters in a super hero film, but there’s this vulnerability to everyone in the movie that makes it hard to see how they’re going to get out of these scenarios.

The film leaves out a lot of issues that are clearly raised. But then, it is a comic book film, albeit a slightly more realistic one. I didn’t want to hear about the psychological trauma of the teenagers in X-Men had when they killed someone, and clearly the filmmakers felt the same way with Kick-Ass.

This is not a film I can recommend to a lot of people (like my parents), but if you think the idea of kids getting into some Tarantino level shit sounds awesome (and it is), then check it out.