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"Wait till they get a load of me" - or, KICK-ASS as a derivative disappointment
I can't claim to be an aficionado of the comic-book Kick-Ass, written by Mark Millar and John Romita (and in case you don't remember, don't worry, their names pop up as characters read the comic-book on screen, good tie in, I mean, in-joke), and I can't even speak entirely for what the man's talents as a writer are completely (other exposure would include his Superman: Red Son comic, which was a fantastic 'else-world' book, and the adaptation of Wanted from 2008, which was... decent).
But what is here is the film, directed by Matthew Vaughn, on a rather gigantic wave of fan-boy buzz and hype. Character posters have appeared in subway stations and on internet sites, commercial emphasize the "Kick-Ass"-ed nature of the characters, and the trailer is juiced up to pump up the audience like there's no tomorrow. As a red-blooded 20-something going into the film, I had no expectations as to the total quality of the film, but I hoped for the best.
As it turns out, Kick-Ass is... just OK. That might be the worst thing Vaughn would want to hear, but it's what happens when one shoots so high with a high concept while also, as a director, not taking into account something as, say, originality. I don't mean in the premise itself, per-say, which concerns a teenage kid, Dave, who is just an average nerdy dude who gets picked on and whose mother died rather un-tragically from an aneurysm (oh, and he masturbates a lot, just thought I'd share that). He decides one day, 'hey, why doesn't someone just become a superhero?' Dave throws on a scuba suit, goes out into the world, and... gets his ass beaten down, a lot, like emergency-room suitable. But, as he says, like a good serial killer, he can't let go, and keeps going out, getting his ass kicked (and kicking a little bit here and there), and a video sparks him into the momentary flavor of the moment.
There is some satire present here in this concept, and with some of the other characters, like Mr. McCready and his daughter, Mindy, the former training the latter since birth to fight and, on occasion, be shot at like it's going to the park ("It's like getting punched in the chest," kindly Damon says). Whether this is all really top-notch satire it's hard to say; from the looks of material in Kick-Ass and Millar's previous adaptation Wanted it's easy to say that he's a big Fight Club fan, really, just a big comics fan since naturally he writes for them and wants to toy and see what makes the conventions kick. In fact I wasn't bothered so much by the Big Daddy/Hit Girl relationship... actually, that's a white lie. It is disturbing, particularly when set, at least at first, in something that really resembles a "real" world in the scope of a movie. But it's handled well in the sense that it's interesting - they're dynamic for their moments on screen.
I actually would want to see more of that, and see more of Hit Girl/Mindy developed. But then again, why have development (playing Devil's Advocate here) when you can just have Hit Girl by way of her father/mentor go around killing lots of people without much background in character. What ultimately comes up in the film is a sense of a shallow interpretation of the material, of it sliding into a weird region where it loses sense of any kind of reality based in its satire and becomes a derivative fan-boy genre wet dream. And I'm not trying to make hyperbole with that; Vaughn transforms his film, in the second half, after what has been a curious mixed-up but sometimes very funny story of misguided outcasts living vicariously through fantasy, into a genre knock-off. And not even that, but a Tarantino knock-off. By the time the Morricone music came up and the masses of guards arrived, only one thought creeped in my mind: At what point does Hit Girl join the Deadly Vipers?
The loss of originality in the direction, and moments of humor that fall flat, could be made up by the performances. As luck would have it, Nicolas Cage does really rise up to the occasion (perhaps as he's such a comic-book fan himself that he really does get what Millar and Romita went for). He puts on a strange William Shatner type of inflection for stretches of time, and puts some serious emphasis into his characters own vendetta - his story makes up the crux of the film, getting vengeance at the gangster played by Mark Strong - and he gives a genuine piece of work, at times howlingly hysterical and dead-pan. Those who fare less well are Hit Girl, played by Chloe Moretz (though she does what she can), and especially the guy playing Kick-Ass. Even in scenes where I wanted to get behind the jokes, like the running side-story with Dave and the girl who thinks he's gay (a creep thing to do, but hey, he's a teen), I couldn't because it's just an unconvincing performance. Mint-Plasse as Red Mist doesn't fare much better, but the character is one-note anyway.
RATING: (HIGH) RENTAL
I wish I could get behind the film a lot more than I did. Yet, the longer it lingers in my mind after watching it, the less I think of it, favorably or negatively really. It will probably give its already solidified fans of the comic something to chew on, and maybe Vaughn can bring a few more into his cinematic fold. Little sparks of a fantastic commentary show up (perhaps media attention, which has some basis in fact, re: the story a year ago in Cincinatti where an actual guy named "Shadow Hare" went out to try and fight crime, could have given some better focus). But overall, it doesn't really make its mark as its own genuine article, which is a shame.
PS: If you're wondering what the quoted line in the title of this blog refers to, well... you know that movie Batman? Yeah...
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Comment by Davril Chorster on May 2, 2010 at 3:30am -
I was saving this for last... so here goes: I'm not a fan of the comic but the comic made sense in all the areas that I believe the movie failed. I think that the comic could not have translated into a movie at all, it only works as a comic. If you want to see a movie that makes the "superheroes can't exist" aspect work watch "Defendor". It's a far superior film to "Kick-Ass" and is just a damn good movie in general. It stars Woody Harrelson and he delivers one of his most human performances.
As for this thread, I'm done.
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Comment by Vortex Orange on May 1, 2010 at 5:57pm -
@ Davril Chorster
I'm not ranting. I did say I disagree, not that he was wrong. The movie isn't badly flawed. Like every other movie it has flaws.
Your just another one of the people who don't like Kick-Ass and have no real reason other then it didn't stay true to the comic etc. Whiplash actually stated why he didn't like it in a well writen way that made sense. You are just stating some flaws of the movie and making it seem like those flaws make the movie bad. Which they don't.
You have to also understand that when making this movie changes had to be made. If they made exactly how it was in the comic it would be more controversial and people would hate it more. A lot of people would have hated it and it likly would have failed. Even though I love the comic I agree that changing the movie's ending was something that should've happened for the movie because it ends on the biggest downer. Not to mention they threw shit at you like killing Big Daddy, Dave not getting the kill then getting the shit beat out of him only to afterwards see a picture of Katie blowing her new BF and etc.
If the movie was gonna see well they needed to make changes and I'm fine with that so long as Mark was on board for it which he was.
But I'm gonna stop replying to stuff like this because it's plan dumb. A bunch of people most of which only think they know what they're saying talking about weather Kick-Ass was good or not. It's a good movie but it doesn't mean you have to like it. Whiplash stated what he personally thought made this crap and it's his opinion that he didn't like it. Your just another person who hates it so he feels the need to shit on people for liking it and kiss the ass of people who don't like it. Darth Corey was being a dick which is the only reason why I said what I said and at no point did I say he should like the film. If you hates it fine. I actually know that other people have different opinions and don't tell them they're stupid for having one.
I agree with you that it's all about personal taste and only that. Just because you and some other people/fan boys think Kick-Ass is in bad taste doesn't mean it is.
There is plenty in here that is real and how people act, but the ending was a big superhero bash out which is not really something that could or would happen. Big Daddy and Hit-girl are still vigilante style fighters in the comic book. But I don't hear anyone talking about how the comic book can be just as unrealistic as the movie.
I'm not ranting against Whiplash, I was telling Darth Corey to shut up because he is just being a dick about it.
I have critiqued the film and have had people tell me I'm stupid for liking it and such.
Your attempts to "shat" on me "without decency or respect" fail.
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Comment by Davril Chorster on May 1, 2010 at 4:07am
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@Vortex Orange,
Please try to write in a coherent tone. Spelling and grammar are easily fixed if you simply type everything in Word first, which by the way is a program that's just as flawed as Kick-Ass (the movie) is. No one said that whoever likes this movie is stupid because it entirely comes down to personal taste, be it good or bad. Kick-Ass is in bad taste and even its fans agree. That's the whole point; It's what separates it from other comic book movies. In the film, Kick-Ass says, "screw Peter Parker", or something among those lines announcing that it's a movie about being a teenage boy in fictionalized, contemporary, slightly realistic North America. But nothing in the movie resembles the real world and people do not act or are acted upon realistically. That's why this movie's a RENTAL.
If you have an opinion that differs from others', please let it be longer than a few condescending words and terms. Explain why you liked or disliked a certain film with feeling, mean what you say (or write) and back it up with logic. This is a critique that you're ranting against so why not try to critique the film on your own and wait for the nay-sayers to disagree with you? See how it feels to be shat on without decency or respect.
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Comment by Vortex Orange on May 1, 2010 at 3:22am
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@ Darth Corey
Again, your not funny.
What I meant by I was drunk is that my comment wasn't only spelled wrong but was writen by an angry drunk who was kinda talking out of his ass. Just to clarify I think the review is really well writen. I don't agree with it at all but it could hold up in an argument. Whiplash good shit.
Kick-Ass is not seariously flawed, you just don't like it. If I didn't like The Shawshank Redemption I wouldn't say because it's seariously flawed, it'd just be because I didn't like it. I never said Whiplash couldn't have his opinion about it, I just disagree strongly and happened to write that I disagreed when I was drunk so it came off as stupid. I do NOT eat up anything comic book and.or geek related. I'm not sure how you would even know that at all. Seems like your talking out of your ass. Your just saying things. And how can you tell me to grow a pair and a brain so "grown-ups", like yourself, can talk when you insist that I want to blow Millar and make crappy jokes that only you think are funny?
Also stop kissing Whiplash's ass, your just blindly agreeing with him just because you don't like Kick-Ass. So your just repeating what he has said only in a dickish way and your calling people stupid for liking this movie.
So shut up.
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Comment by Don Panini on April 29, 2010 at 6:15pm -
How do the fans of this movie (It has yet to arrive on my neck of the woods) take the drop it had this week in the box office?
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Comment by Super Andrew on April 28, 2010 at 12:55pm -
good job leon and for everyone whos being all pissy about this shut up. I happen to think kick ass is the best movie of the year so far but im not bitching at this guy for having an opinion.
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Comment by Darth Corey on April 27, 2010 at 11:55pm -
@ Leon
Omg Leon, you are the man!
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Comment by Darth Corey on April 27, 2010 at 11:54pm
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@ Vortex Orange
I did not know being intoxicated excuse stupid outlooks or behavior. Oh wait it doesn't. Stop bandwagoning and being a tool. Me, Whiplash, and other movie/comic Fans(Not fanboys) just want to say that Kick-ass is a fun but seriously flawed film. No offense(I'm being the bigger person), you are a hypocritical fanboy because you mindlessly eat up anything comic and/or geek related released. Please shut up till you grow a pair and a brain or you could always just keep your mouth shut when grown-ups are talking, do a sexual favor for Millar, and join Co-host's fanclub. XD
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Comment by GodDamnRobots on April 27, 2010 at 9:23pm -
Kudos to Leon for stepping in, hopefully it mediates the back-and-forth here which has gotten to some name-calling that doesn't really make sense.
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Comment by Mr. Whiplash on April 26, 2010 at 6:52pm -
@Leon: Someday, somehow...
Just to address my previous comment about Co-Host: I didn't mean to say that in any disrespect to him. He's a fantastic reviewer. I could've phrased it better: if you want to see someone who LOVED LOVED LOVED the movie (and he's usually, to me, the guy who's all about the genre movie in general) then check out his take on it.
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