Review of Kick-Ass (2010) by Phillip D — 30 Jan 2015

When Matthew Vaughn decided to begin this venture into a darkly comic, ferociously kinetic action flick, everyone, and I mean everyone, turned him down. It would have been easy to just call it a day, watch Layer Cake and sulk. Thank God he didn't. .

Due to his persistence and vision, our cinemas were gatecrashed by Kick-Ass, a gloriously gory and slightly demented superhero film which is the most fun you can have at the cinema with your clothes on and at the same time a very character based and really quite moving take on the society in which we live. .

But first, to Mr. Vaughn. Many people have called this the Quentin Tarantino superhero film. Whilst there are definitely similarities, Matthew Vaughn has set up a very definite directorial style; using a first person view to startling effect while a character is being beaten up, seamless transitions from shot to shot which boggle the mind and a perfect combination of the tripodless camera look and fantastic long-held shots which will make your hair stand on end, especially in the standout action sequence involving strobe lights and ultra slow-motion. He is also not afraid to get up close and personal with actors, prompting great performances all around and creating what I'm calling the Vaughn Gaze: the character's eyes dart to the left and the right, up and down, as the camera slowly zooms in. Then, as the zoom comes to a stop, the character looks straight forward, calm, confident, ready. The Vaughn Gaze, it's gonna be a thing, like the Kubrick Stare. .

Onto the actors. This is another inspired casting selection in a Matthew Vaughn film. Would Layer Cake be Layer Cake without Daniel Craig? Aaron Johnson is the perfect choice to play Dave, just the right combination of "optimism and naivety." He plays the role to a tee; especially with the different personas of Kick-Ass and Dave and their attitudes towards the world in general. But even though the film is called Kick-Ass, it really is Hit-Girl's film. Chloe Moretz plays the thoroughly innapproptiate 11 year with a talent beyond her years, shining not just in the action sequences (which are out-of-this-world! Suck it Scarlett Johanson!) but in her softer moments too, never really letting us forget that she's still a kid. She's gonna be the one to watch in the next few years, already with a repertoire including (500) Days of Summer and this marvel of cinema. Just like we knew that Ellen Page was going places, watch this chick. Nicolas Cage, too, seems to have broken his streak of flat and pointless films with Kick-Ass. His performance as Big-Daddy is fantastic, adding so many more layers to his character than many other actors would have though to or have been capable of. The contrast of Damon MacReady and Big-Daddy is startling, with everything from his moustache to his voice and demeanour changing entirely. His Adam West impression, too, is dead on. For all those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, do your research. The supporting are all worth their salt as well, in particular Dave's two friends, and of course Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Lyndsy Fonsesca (How I Met Your Mother, Ted's future daughter) is quite good as well, though her performance as Katie occassionally was a little lacking. But in all of this, Vaughn never lets us forget who our main character is which is the sign of a truly talented guy. .

Then there's the script. And what a script it is. Infinitely quotable as well as being incredibly true to life and inspiring all at the same time. Gut-burstingly funny in places and incredibly moving in others, it walks the very fine line between lame and inspiring as well as not taking the mickey too much. .

The score is absolutely brilliant. Just like Layer Cake, the sound itself can sum up a character's feelings, tell the story and make you feel whatever they want you to. It's an extremely diverse soundtrack, from songs which would be more often found in nightclubs to the full brass of the theme song, as well as some well-placed contemporary songs and tributes to the days of old. Kudos for including the Banana Splitz theme song whilst legs are being lopped off. .

AND, on top of all that, it is also quite political, discussing the devolving of our society's values in terms of helping out our fellow man, who we idolise and our skewed vision in terms of who's crazier, people who beat up fellow human beings or guys who dress up in green wetsuits and defend the opressed. .

This film could easily have turned into an action-fest without any sense to it at all. However, thanks to the spot-on direction and pitch perfect script, we are bestowed with this, an entertaining, darkly comic, no-holds-barred or punches-pulled superhero film which rivals the best of them. You may actually find yourself crying while some dude's getting his head blown off. Not that I did. No. Definitely not. I'm way too cool for that. Oh shut up. Anyway, it's the most fun you'll have at the cinema this year and is so far my pick as the best for 2010. Watch it! .

Defining Scene: .

In terms of awesomeness, Mindy's assault on Kick-Ass' imprisoners.