Kick Ass

Believe the hype!!

The most controversial movie to hit the big screen this year. It's a shame it has received headlines for all the wrong reasons as this movie brings a lot more than controversy! Kick Ass (Aaron Johnson) describes himself as a regular guy with regular friends and has no luck with the opposite sex. In truth, he is a a likeable nerd bordering on Napoleon Dynamite. He spends his time with his 2 dorky mates reading comics and lusting after girls that are out of their league. His obsession with comic book superheroes gets him thinking as to why there is not a modern day hero to fight local crime, so he purchases a typical hero costume on line and sets about training himself to fill this role. These scenes are cringeworthy but hilarious and when he stumbles upon a local gang attack, he intervenes and becomes an overnight global hero due to a bystanders recording of the scene being aired on tv.

The newly famed Superhero is unaware that there is a crimefighting father and daughter duo sat at home watching his antics on tv. Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) is a single parent father to Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) who is a mere 11 years of age. She is more interested in getting guns and knives as presents from her father, rather than the latest Bratz doll.

It's at this stage in the movie where controversy rears it's ugly head as the 11 year old lets loose with a string of expletives and displays the fighting skills of a highly trained assassin. They have a more personal reason for their vigilantic acts and in their sights is local crimelord Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong). The duo will not rest until his empire is destroyed. By default, Kick Ass finds himself caught up in Big Daddy and Hit Girl's revenge on D'Amico and the results are gags that are laugh out loud with some outrageous action scenes. Initially it's shocking to hear an 11 year old girl use the C word and I can understand why some are upset over this. However, when the grim details of her birth and upbringing are revealed, Hit Girl's actions seem more acceptable.

This is Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman's (Mrs Jonathan Ross) second collaboration and it couldn't be further removed from their previous venture, the lighthearted Starlight! Vaughn's directing is sleek and innovative, he even manages to fit in a scene with a giant billloard of his supermodel wife Claudia Schiffer in the background. Goldman's script is laden with clever one liners and never hits a lull. Newcomer Chloe Moretz is a revelation as Hit Girl and Brit actor Aaron Johnson who was recently on our screens playing John Lennon in Nowhere Boy excels in the lead role. Nicolas cage is for once very watchable and quite funny in his supporting role. Winning an Oscar all those years ago was the worst thing for Cage as it propelled him into the ill suited area of leading man resulting in countless flops.

Kick Ass the movie is at times shocking and gory but never takes itself serious. It views likes a cross between Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction but what sets it apart from a Tarantino movie is the heartfelt moments of sentiment that will keep the more sensitive viewer smiling and captivated. I doubt there will be many people who will think it an ok movie, it's a love it or hate it verdict. It's only April but I fail to see a better movie being released this year.

Believe the hype for all the right reasons!!!

Score: 10/10