First things first: Kick-Ass is not just another superhero flick. Sure, it features characters donning colourful costumes and tackling crime, but it is most definitely not in the same league as what Marvel and DC have been offering of late. It is no superhero parody either, so anyone attempting to make comparisons to the abysmal Superhero Movie should stop right now. No, Kick-Ass is the rarest of beasts, a film that is homage, satire, comedy and action flick all at the same time. It is director Matthew Vaughn’s love letter to the comic book industry.
Our protagonist is Dave Lizewski (skilfully played by Aaron Johnson), a high school geek we can all identify with mainly because he convinces as an oddball loser. He gets regularly mugged by the same thugs, is caught ogling his English teacher’s breasts during class and pretends to be gay so he can get close to the girl of his dreams. To put it simply, he makes Peter Parker look like the Fonz. Dave escapes his tedious existence by immerging himself in superhero fiction and often wonders why no one has ever attempted to enter the vigilante business for real. So he slips into a green wetsuit, straps a couple of batons to his back and becomes the unlikely costumed avenger known as Kick-Ass.
The most intriguing aspect of the film is that while Matthew Vaughn clearly has a love and appreciation of the superhero genre, he is also keen on pointing out how ludicrous and especially dangerous vigilantism can be. In one moment we see Kick-Ass botch his first attempt to leap off a building because he has miscalculated the jumping distance; the next, we see him get fatally stabbed in the stomach for trying to foil a car theft. No doubt, Dave is as human as he is fallible.
But this is also Kick-Ass’ main strength. By having a hero prone to error you can not help but cheer him on as he relentlessly gets up after every savage beating: he represents the “tryer”, the true Everyman. It could be anyone of us in that green costume. The scene in which Kick-Ass finally manages to deliver some much needed justice in a 7/11 parking lot will have you punching the air with glee.
While the film remains accessible to all viewers, the Forbidden Planet crowd will be happy to notice the numerous comic book references scattered throughout the plot. Dave’s metal plates in his bones are a blatant nod to Wolverine, Nicholas Cage’s Big Daddy echoes Adam West’s Batman, while there is a distinct Harry Osborneness to the character of Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, still channelling his McLovin persona).
The OTT violence is just the cherry on an already thickly-iced cake. The fact that most of it comes at the hands of the eleven-year old Hit Girl will either thrill or deeply offend you, depending on your moral inclinations. The action may become slightly cartoonish and too surreal in the final minutes but it won’t matter. You will be too entertained to notice.
5/5
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