The Film Reports

FILM REVIEW

3 stars

Action, Crime

Full disclosure: I tried to watch this once a couple of years ago and 5 minutes in, I decided I had better things I could watch. My opinion has definitely changed (not least evidenced by the fact that I actually sat through the whole movie this time).

Kick-Ass follows Dave (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) as he answers his own question – why does nobody ever try to become a real life superhero? He orders a wetsuit online and practises one-liners infront of the mirror and that is the full extent of his preparation. It’s all so funny It’s a very specific type of humour, and you may have to wait until the perfect time to watch it, like I did but goddamn, it was good. Sometimes, the humour does become just a little cringey, rather than funny, but that may have just been because my sense of humour is not usually what this film employs.

The other side of the plot is about Mindy Macready (Chloe Grace Moretz) and her dad Damon Macready (Nicolas Cage) who have actually been superheros before Dave thought his idea up. Mindy/Hit Girl is a fighter; like a real superhero. She’s so cool. Honestly, as realistic and funny as Dave’s side of the story was, Mindy/Hit Girl stole the show. I’m 80% sure that was how it was intended to be and I do hope the second movie concentrates more on her.

I did feel as though the movie stretched a little longer than I liked and so that’s a factor in the rating I’ve given it. I did like the film, but it’s a reluctant type of liking. I preferred this over Scott Pilgrim, so there’s that.

Watch it: at 2am, when you’ve run out of other options.