Rating:  

Marv, Plan B, and Li0nsgate.

Written by: Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn, adapted from the comic book series, “Kick-Ass” by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.

I occasionally run into movies that people love and praise and I simply don’t get. “Kick-Ass” is a recent example. I have read and heard people talk about how “Kick-Ass” is edgy, original, and has to be seen to be believed. Missing it in theaters, I of course rushed it right to the top of my Netflix queue and settled in for what I expected to be something entertaining and unique. Instead, I got a bland, uninspired, lukewarm film that barely registered a blip with me whatsoever.

A stylish film that attempts to take the bullied youth storyline to superhero heights, “Kick-Ass” is anchored by Aaron Johnson’s turn as Dave. Johnson is cast well in the role of the nerdy kid who wonders why they are not real superheroes in the world, like the ones he reads about in comic books. Despite possessing no superpowers of any kind, Dave designs a costume for his superhero alter ego, Kick-Ass. And in his effort attempts to fight crime, his name is a well chosen one – to describe what happens to him. In fact, Dave’s first foray into crime fighting leads to him being seriously injured and hospitalized. Recovering from his injuries, Kick-Ass is now able to endure more pain than most people and he uses that as his ability. Soon, however, Kick-Ass finds himself in more complex and dangerous matters and is fortunate to build a small little nexus of other wannabe youthful superheroes to help him out.

Top of the list is Mindy, dubbed Hit Girl as her alterego (Chloe Moretz). Moretz’s performance is the source of much of the film’s controversy as we see her train with her well-meaning but psychotic father (Nicolas Cage) and throw around curse words like they mean nothing. Cage and Moretz have fairly original father/daughter chemistry; however, their chemistry centers on rather reprehensible moments including Cage shooting his daughter at point-blank range, while she wears a bullet-proof vest and he trains her to be the deadliest assassin she can be. Much of their scenes are played for humor and I simply did not find their moments funny. As ill advised and off putting as her story arc may ultimately become, Chloe Moretz is far and away the most memorable component of “Kick-Ass”.

Mostly, the problem with the film is that it really is an arrogant piece. It is always the prerogative of any filmmaker to make whatever film they feel they need to make. So, for me, the film’s penchant for strong language, graphic violence, and R-rated content is not the problem. Instead, “Kick-Ass” feels like the bully its characters want to rebel against. Matthew Vaughn’s film often seems to be cracking itself up and left me disengaged from caring about much of what was happening on the screen. I could not care less about Dave, Kick Ass, Mindy, Hit Girl, or other supporting characters who get lumped into the narrative. I really found nothing to root for in Dave’s quest to become Kick-Ass, just as I always recoil from people who think they are better than me and attempt to remind me of it over and over again.

Going forward, Matthew Vaughn needs to respect his audience a bit more and realize that telling someone that something is “cool” and “awesome” does not make it so. Instead of siding with a bullied teen who cannot take it anymore, “Kick-Ass” is the equivalent of the loudmouthed braggart that everyone wants to kick the ass of. Needless to say, I think Vaughn missed the mark. As I say that however, I get the sense that Vaughn himself would be all up in my face and then challenge me to fight him in the courtyard after school. I’ll make sure I come dressed as my alter ego, in relation to this movie, Apathetic Man.

Should I See It?

l completely understand that my view on this movie is in stark contrast to many other people’s. This is a crass, vulgar, violent comedic fantasy that is unique to other films out there. In that regard, it stand apart from its counterparts in this sub-genre.

I can see younger adult viewers and teens finding this entire film cool and groundbreaking.

By and large, people do like the bullied youth exacting revenge storyline.

If your name is Matthew Vaughn, I imagine you cannot watch this movie enough

It’s not a terrible movie as much as it is an unnecessary one. I am all for creativity and new ideas in movies, but blood-soaked violence and mega-cursing from a 10-year old girl is not my idea of original. Plus, this is yet another film in the bullied kid fighting back genre we have seen a number of times.

Parents might be outraged by a film promoted and tailored to teens, being so drenched in its R-rating.

It is a conceited film, which makes you feel as if you have to like it. Mostly, I did not and were this school and I vocalized my opinion, I would probably be shoved into a locker or something.