LAKE OCONEE — Kick-Ass

Rated R (for strong, brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and drug use — occasionally involving children).



I never thought I would have ever written a review of a movie with a name like “Kick-Ass.” Never have I seen a film with so much gratuitous violence committed by such unlikely characters. And, last but not least, I never before found myself laughing while watching a film and feeling guilty about all that inappropriate blood-letting.

To describe “Kick-Ass” as an adolescent, comic book fantasy would be an understatement. If you don’t understand the world of comic book satire mixed with dark, almost-sick humor, this is not your kind of entertainment. Kick-Ass is no “Superman,” “Batman,” or even “Iron Man.”

What was the last film you ever saw wherein an 11-year-old girl kills more than 50 people and vigorously spews profanity?

Now if you are still reading, I will go on.

“Kick-Ass” exists in a world where nobody has any actual superpowers. High school student Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) asks why there are no superheroes in the real world, and when he does not get an answer, he dons a silly mail order costume and tries to stop some punks from stealing a car. He gets his ass kicked. When he tries again, taking on three thugs, he is filmed and becomes a You Tube hero. When asked his name, he says, I am “Kick-Ass.” His fame attracts a father and daughter crime-fighting team, known as Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage doing his Adam West imitation) and Hit Girl (Cloe Moretz). Father has no super powers but he has super weapons. Daughter’s martial art skills would make Jackie Chan claim paternity. They help the hapless Kick-Ass. The three, together, become super killers of bad guys. Well, two thug-killers plus a third wheel.

Chris D’Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is the son of a nasty gangster boss (Mark Strong). Incidentally, Chris is the same age as Dave; they go to the same school. Chris wants to please his daddy so he becomes “Red Mist,” a wannabe superhero, but with a way cool costume and car, to uncover the identity of Kick-Ass, Big Daddy, and Hit Girl. Now, Kick-Ass, has a Judas in his midst.

However, all of this is just background to the bizarre, nerd-narration by Dave and the mega-violence committed by the potty-mouthed, little girl. “Kick-Ass” is “Grindhouse” and “Pulp Fiction” but with nerds. Both David and Chris have the kind of voices that make you wonder if they both need their adenoids removed — which makes them intriguing characters. Perfect casting, by the way.

This film can be, for many people, very disturbing; but the story is so absurd, so “out there,” that the shock is the entertainment. It is in bad taste, to be sure. On the other hand, it is what it is: a comic book adolescent fantasy infused with cynical humor. It is “Scarface” but with a twisted sense of humor.

My 13-year-old “self” enjoyed it, but if I were not paid to report on it, I would most likely not admit it, much less find a way to describe it to a mixed audience. So that is what one m ust be to appreciate the film: a mid-pubescent with a desperate need to be a hero in order to impress — the “cool crowd,” and maybe even a girl.

Frankly, hundreds, if not thousands of films, are just as violent. It is who commits the violence that blows the mind. But this is not a documentary on juvenile violence on TruTV or Discovery ID. Seeing a little girl flip in the air and trick a bad guy into blowing his head off is, well, something new. If you can just get beyond that…

Is it well done? Yes, it is. Is it funny? Yes, it is. Is it controversial? Yep. Is it grotesquely ultra-violent? Yep again.

Is a hoot? That it is.



"Kick-Ass" earns four bow ties out of five.