Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Kick-Ass Starring: Aaron Johnson , Chloe Moretz ,
Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Nicolas Cage
“I never understood why nobody did it
before me,” awkward teenager Dave Lizewski
( played by upcoming John Lennon actor
Aaron Johnson) spends most of his free time
reading comic books or making deposits into
the wack-off warehouse. Dave’s life is
changed forever when he buys a green scuba
suit online and although he lacks any real
super powers he decides to try to help those
in need.
The answer to why nobody has tried it
before him is quickly answered as, without
giving too much away, Dave ends up in the
hospital bruised, battered and thanks to body
wide metal braces on his bones looking a little
like wolverine. Although Dave is the films
‘Hero’ he actually takes a back seat whenever
Damon Macready/Big Daddy( played by a
superb Nicolas Cage in a role that “Makes
Nicolas Cage cool again”) or his 11-year old
daughter Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl( Chloe
Moretz who is the true star of this film) are
present.
British director Matthew Vaugn (Layer Cake,
Written by:
Stardust) handles this comic to movie
adaptation with the skill of a much more
seasoned director. The way he weaves story,
comedy, and action is very ambitious and it
pays off in the end. From the first time we
meet these carefully crafted characters we
start to feel for them and the challenges they
face. Vaugn does a great job of sticking close
to Mark Millar’s (Wanted) original story and
characters yet at the same time putting his
own mark on it, using the same style he did in
Layer Cake.
“Okay you c*nts…lets see
what you can do!”
-- Chloe Moretz’s foul mouthed Hit-Girl is
every parents nightmare, yet still a young,
emotionally challenged girl we can feel for
The story puts a fresh spin on the over
exhausted super hero genre, leaving out the
‘super’ part entirely. This fleshes out the
Eric D. Ballinger
characters and makes them much more
relatable. Over all it’s a story of human
triumph and the strength of some to put
themselves at risk for the good of their
communities. These ordinary people accept
the extraordinary challenge of ridding the
streets of the crime infested scum that prey
on the innocent. They do this not for wealth
or glory, fame or reward but to better the
world that they have all but lost faith in.
After Dave recovers from his first disastrous
encounter he doesn’t give up, his morale is
strengthened and he starts to work and train
even harder. During this point a love interest
 P.2
emerges for Dave in the form of Katie, a
female classmate played by the very beautiful
Lyndsy Fonseca. This seeming romance takes
a comical detour when we find out the real
reason behind Katie’s interest and the way
Dave handles it is priceless.
As Dave and Katie’s relationship continues
she asks him for help with an ex-boyfriend
who wont leave her alone. As Dave “deals”
with the problem he finds himself in way over
his head but a mysterious duo of seemingly
real super heroes rescue him from his own
undoing. Its at this point that we are
introduced to Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, a team
of killers as lethal as they are mismatched.
Dave continues with his ‘crime
fighting’ and eventually meets up with yet
again another Hero, this one named Red Mist
(played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse who
sheds the skin of McLovin like I didn’t think
possible) . Red Mist is actually Chris D’Amico
son of feared
mob boss Frank D’Amico in disguise to lure in
Kick-Ass and find out who the other heroes
that have been taking out D’Amico’s contacts.
Thanks to Red Mist, Dave unwittingly leads his
fellow heroes into a trap orchestrated by
Frank D’Amico’s men. The following sequence
“Like every serial killer
already knew: eventually
fantasizing just doesn’t do it
for you anymore”.
-- Kick-Ass ponders for a moment continuing
his average life or taking a leap of faith,
starting the life he always knew he was
meant for.
of the captives being beaten and executed on
live television is a little disturbing although
Hit-Girl, who was not captured or killed
thanks to her bullet proof vest, returns to
save Dave and what was left of her Father.
The battle to free Big Daddy and Kick-Ass
from the clutches of Frank D’Amico and his
band of men is so emotional one would
swear it was tangible. The action alone is
electrifying but add in the fact that Hit-Girl is
fighting while her father is literally burning to
death in front of her makes it just that much
more mesmerizing. The thugs put the video
of the execution online and on the local
television
programs so that all wannabe heroes could
learn from the example. As Dave’s family and
friends watch he is beaten until despite his
metal encased skeleton he is in more pain
then ever before.
Dave and Hit-Girl return to her safe house to
nurse their wounds, both physical and
emotional. Although Dave is strongly against
it Hit-Girl decides to once and for all end the
man who destroyed her entire family, Frank
D’Amico. This final battle is one of the most
intense I have ever witnessed in a movie. As it
leads up to the final confrontations, Hit-Girl V.
Frank D’Amico and Kick-Ass V. Red Mist, the
suspense doesn’t give in. We see crazy knives
on strings, Jetpacks with machine guns
attached, and a huge Bazooka all of which are
used to their full lethal potential.
This was one of the most enjoyable 2 hours
I have ever spent in front of the television and
commend everyone who had a hand in
making this movie, it is truly Kick-Ass.