‘Kick Ass’ Not an Ordinary Superhero Story By Art Byrd

When did you ever think you would have a mainstream movie, directed at the general public, called “Kick Ass?” Well, one is here, and the name sums up the film. I can’t recommend the film for kids at all, especially those under 16. “Kick Ass” has a lot of profanity and tons of violence. I mean some turn-your-head-from-the-screen violence.

From the trailer, the film “Kick Ass” looks like the usual superhero movie. A young boy feels that there is no justice in the world and wants to stand up for it.  The film has those elements. The story centers on Dave, played by Aaron Johnson, who is a teenager going through the angst of growing up with bullies, girls who see him as invisible and a computer.

Dave’s saving grace comes in his friends, Marty and Todd, played by Clark Duke (“Hot Tub Time Machine”) and Evan Peters, who share an interest in comic books. One day, Dave asks the question, “Why aren’t ordinary people becoming superheroes to help people?” Marty and Todd say it’s because they would get their ass kicked.

Not deterred, Dave orders a scuba suit online and turns it into a superhero costume with a mask and construction boots. Dave uses two police batons as weapons.

After seeing two bullies he knows breaking into a car, Dave changes into the scuba costume. He confronts the bullies and gets beat up and stabbed. Then he stumbles into the path of oncoming car and is hit.

After recovering from his injuries, Dave suits up again and rescues a man being beaten by some thugs. This time, his heroic act is captured on video cameras and posted on the Internet. When Dave is asked what his name is, he looks into the camera and says “Kick Ass.” Kick Ass becomes an Internet sensation.

Kick Ass starts a homemade hero craze. Enter Nicolas Cage, who plays Damon Macready, a vengeful father who has trained his 13-year-old daughter Mindy (played by newcomer Chloe Moretz) in many forms of weaponry. There is a scene where he shoots her in the chest with a gun so she knows how a gun blast feels while wearing a bulletproof vest.

Damon and Mindy become the crime-fighters “Big Daddy” and “Hit Girl.” Their costumes look really cool.  Now, Moretz as “Hit Girl” steals the film. She does some serious killing of people; I felt weird watching a 13 year old stabbing and shooting grown men.

Edited by Michele Ristich Gatts