Released:         2^nd April 2010  

Pez dispensers are so much more efficient nowadays...

Title:                 Kick-Ass 

Director:           Mathew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) 

Starring:            Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Nicholas Cage 

Based on the forthcoming graphic novel from the creator of ‘Wanted’ this is a superhero movie with a difference.  Like Watchmen before it, there’s no way this would have been made if there weren’t a load of successful superhero movies already out there… if only to reference and riff off.  

“…average teenage guy is inspired to be a superhero.”

It’s a simple but brilliant concept.  An average teenage guy is inspired to be a superhero.  He doesn’t have any special powers or even much in the way of training or heroic physique, but nobody else is doing it so it’s his duty right?  You don’t have to be a complete geek to have shared that same fantasy, but I’m sure it helps.  Needless to say he’s going to get into some scrapes. 

The real draw though, are the ‘real’ superheroes that turn up, Big Daddy (Cage in budget dark-knight-a-like costume) and his cute young daughter, Hit-Girl (Moretz).  Cute that is, until she starts using the ‘C’ word and mashing bad guys like they’re Play-Doh.  She singlehandedly justifies the title and a trip to the cinema based on the trailers alone.   

“…a cult phenomenon in the making.” 

She may be difficult to recognise from her last performance as the wise young sister in ‘500 Days of Summer’, but the garish pink hair, ill-fitting lone ranger mask, foul mouth and ability to give Neo and Trinity a run for their money in the run n’ gun stakes can’t hide the fact that she’s a major talent and cult phenomenon in the making. 

Add McLovin’ as a rich kid bad guy who also dons mask and cape to bring down the titular lead and you get more comedy potential than ‘Hancock’ and ‘Mystery Men’ joining forces.  The amateur superhero comedy may becoming a sub-genre all of its own, so let’s hope this sets the benchmark, and… well, let’s hope it does exactly what it says on the tin.   

4-Word Thinking:           No power = no responsibility. 

Go further:              Visit the official site or view the trailer below.