By With so many graphic novels being turned into major motion pictures these days, there are high expectations from fans who do not want the novels to lose their integrity. Fortunately, “Kick-Ass” actually kicks ass.
“Kick-Ass,” which opened on Friday, is based on a graphic novel series of the same name created in 2008 by Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita Jr. It is funny, violent, unapologetic and does not leave its audience bored for a second.
In the film, an idealistic teenager (Aaron Johnson), disheartened by the selfishness of society and human nature, thinks that someone should have the guts to be a superhero. He buys a costume off eBay, hits the streets and becomes “Kick-Ass,” the newest city crime-fighter and cultural phenomenon. Unfortunately, this defender of justice does not succeed in fighting crime, but rather in getting his ass kicked by criminals all over New York City.
His alter ego attracts a lot of attention, most notably from Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), a former cop who is training his young daughter Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) to become a lethal super-ninja. He also catches the eye of a powerful and vicious drug-lord (Mark Strong), who is determined to show Kick-Ass that being a superhero in his world holds consequences.
“Kick-Ass” has just enough violence, profanity and even a little sex appeal to please comic book fans and average moviegoers alike. The humor is quick-witted and slightly raunchy. It is reminiscent of “Superbad,” but with a snappier delivery.
The music is fast-paced and fun, just like the movie, and there is also a striking use of color and composition in the film. At times, the vivid imagery and stylized violence give off a real sense of flipping through the pages of a comic book.
All the characters are funny and range from the teenagers in Kick-Ass’s high school to the villain’s henchmen.
Johnson is convincing as the endearing protagonist where audiences root for him to get the girl.
Cage plays his role as a maniacal, yet loving father extremely well.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, most popularly known as McLovin in “Superbad,” is hilarious as his usual nerdy self, but his comedy does not steal the show.
Moretz is also a delight to watch as Hit-Girl, and it is refreshing to see a different role model for young girls other than angsty pubescents who love Bratz dolls. This adorable tween girl kills nine guys almost simultaneously while fast-paced rock music blares from the screen. It’s a Tarantino-lover’s dream in the form of a younger version of Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill.”
The movie has all the potential in the world to be compared to a Disney film: geeky underdogs, gaudy costumes and notorious super villains. But “Kick-Ass” remains fresh and modern by balancing gruesome action sequences with torrents of pre-teen-spewed profanity. It has the brutal and bloody violence straight out of the pages of a comic book with the witty dialogue of a summer blockbuster. “Kick-Ass” is just plain fun.
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