Kick-Ass

For as long as I can remember, summertime has meant blockbuster movie season. However, it now seems to come earlier and earlier. We saw Clash of the Titans come out a couple weeks ago, and now we've got Kick-Ass. This action/comedy (or comedy/action, whatever) movie is based on Frank Miller's comic book series. Unfortunately, I know nothing about the series, so I can't say how true the film is to the comic. However, I can say that this was a fun movie. But be warned, it ain't for the squeamish.

Don't let the green band trailers fool you, this superhero movie was rated R for a reason. Violence, sex, drugs, and an 11 year old girl that curses like a sailor. This movie's got it all, and it ain't for kids, the weak of stomach, or the easily offended.

That being said, the movie's pretty funny, especially some of the lines that Hit-Girl drops. And while I felt that a couple of the fight scenes could have been better, they're pretty good overall.

The title character is played by Aaron Johnson (who's English apparently). Kick-Ass' true identity is New Yorker Dave Lizewski, an unpopular high school comic book geek who decides to try his luck with what the characters he's followed his whole life have done. His pitiful attempts are hilarious. He wildly swings his nightsticks around like a crazy person in his nonthreatening costume, occasionally making shots that count. I couldn't help but feel for the guy, because what he lacks in skill he makes-up for with passion, always refusing to back down.

Kick-Ass eventually runs into Red Mist, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, whom you probably know better as "McLovin" from 2007's Superbad. I won't explain how, but Red Mist could be described as Bruce Wayne if he were a nerdy teenager. He has money backing him, so instead of flying around, he drives around in a suped-up Mustang. Red Mist is pretty much the same character as McLovin; an annoying dork that you can't help but love.

Also co-starring is the infamous Nicholas Cage. He plays Big Daddy, a Batman lookalike who assassinates drug dealers in the name of justice. Thankfully, his role wasn't as big as I thought it would be. My money says that Cage was only hired to bring more star power to the cast, because his performance wasn't fantastic. But if the comic book character was supposed to be as pompous at Cage portrayed him to be, then Cage did a great job.

Big Daddy's partner in "crime" is Hit-Girl, played by Chloë Mortez, who pretty much steals the spotlight for the remainder of the film after her first appearance in costume. I'm not sure if you could train a kid in real life to do the things she did in the film, but they're definitely nothing you'd expect a little girl to do. I don't want to spoil it for you, so I won't say anymore.

The only problem I had with this movie was that I didn't think the action and the comedy was blended properly. Don't get me wrong, the jokes and the fight scenes are both pretty good, but they seemed to come together a bit awkwardly. I can't explain it any better than that.

If blockbuster season hasn't started yet, then Kick-Ass is a great warm-up. It's about two hours long, and like I said, there's a reason it's rated R, so don't push your luck with those that it's not meant for.