Review of Kick-Ass (2010) by Quinten P — 24 Sep 2013

When I saw the previews for this movie I thought to myself this could be either the most unbearably cheesy super hero spoof or something actually original and I was betting pretty heavy on the first but I'm sure glad I didn't put any money on that because I would have lost it in a heartbeat.

Kick-Ass was the first truly good adult super hero film I could think of, over the top and usually unrealistic super cops and soldiers like John McClane and Rambo aside. The movie had it all, nerdy high school kid with aspirations of greatness played by surprisingly British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Batman's angry, much more violent cousin played by Nicholas Cage at his very best and his equally badass and murderous daughter, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, a menacing mob boss and seemingly average father, played by Mark Strong and the mobster's son, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who just wants to prove to his cruel and calculating father that he is good enough.

While the cast may seem like someone randomly picked them out of a box they actually mesh together in such a way as to hold the entire movie together, what would a super hero film be if the super heroes were unlikeable anyway? Starting off with Aaron Johnson as Kick-Ass, he is good at playing a nerdy high school kid who has trouble handling the many terrifying situations he is thrown into and his accent is nearly impeccable which is all he really needed for this movie.

Then there is Nick Cage as the first "real" super hero, Big Daddy and I was absolutely astonished I hadn't seen Nick Cage in such a likable or, at the very least, believable performance in years if ever, (SPOILER) I wanted to throw something at the projection when his character was permanently taken out of the film, but it fit as motivation to drive the remaining characters to the climax of the movie (END OF SPOILER).

Mark Strong as the ruthless mobster, Frank D'Amico, is excellent, Mr. Strong is at his best when playing bad guys and his voice is perfect for the role. Then Christopher Mintz-Plasse as McLovin, I mean Chris D'Amico and Red Mist, Frank D'Amico's fake super hero son, is essentially playing McLovin in tights, maybe it's just the voice I don't know.

Last but certainly not least is Chloe Grace Moretz who I honestly have no idea how they found her for the part considering I think the only Hollywood work she had previously were voice overs in kids cartoons or something like that, but it's a damn good thing they did because the movie would not be the same thing without her.

From jumping off walls shooting mobsters in true Matrix-esque fashion to Bad Reputation by Joan Jett, to chopping drug dealers legs off to the Banana Splits theme, this kid does it all. I know for a fact I were as badass as she is in this movie when I was a kid I would have already changed my name to James Bond and been off saving the world from evil guys with fake teeth.

With all of these characters put together this film becomes a funny, bloody, modern classic and, for that, it's a 5 out of 5. For the Kitten in a Tree Help Line, this is The Truth You Can't Handle, signing off.