A tad uneven, but pretty good and funny parody/homage

Rating: 8/10 (30 June 2011)

Basically, KICK ASS (2010) is a modern-day ripoff of other modern-day ripoffs! From some of the reviews I've seen, they have said it is Superbad meets Kill Bill. Well, I have yet to see Superbad, so can't comment on that one, but I HAVE seen Kill Bill (from 2003), and it is one of my favorite films of the decade of the 00s, but just Part 1! This movie also noticeably has elements of Spiderman and Batman. Basically, it's a fusion of many superhero movies!
Director Matthew Vaughn does noticeably borrow from Kill Bill, Part 1, with "kick ass" action sequences that will definitely remind one of that film. Most of the big scenes involve the protagonist of the moment (either Kick Ass or Hit Girl or Big Daddy) single-handedly taking out a group of goons (a la The Bride in Kill Bill) and looking cool doing it. I really did like the musical choices that Vaughn made, which shows that he definitely learned well from Tarantino. Well, at least early Tarantino!
Many of the reviews rave about 13-year old Chloe Moretz (who plays Mindy MacReady, aka Hit Girl) and Moretz is definitely terrific in the role, showing amazing acting chops for such a young actress. But I was also impressed by star Aaron Johnson (Dave Lizewski, aka the title character Kick Ass). As high-schooler Dave/Kick Ass, Johnson really created a sympathetic, relatable character that matured throughout the film in a realistic way. I look forward to the sequel (c'mon, you know there will be one!) where Hit Girl has to teach Kick Ass the art of being a superhero!
The story of KICK ASS is that social outcast Dave, who recently lost his Mom, is frustrated by the inaction of society and his loser status, so he embarks on a mission to be a superhero called "Kick Ass". With his ebay-ordered costume and a pair of numchucks, Kick Ass first attempt at hero is met with disaster, as he gets stabbed by a pair of thugs. Once recovered, Dave becomes popular with his school crush Katie (a charming, beautiful Lyndsy Fonseca), who thinks he is gay. Dave plays the part in order to be friends and stay close to Katie, while re-embarking on his superhero adventures. Dave also has 2 nerdy friends Marty and Todd (hilariously played by Clark Duke and Evan Peters), who live vicariously through both Dave and Kick Ass.
The adult cast is led by none other than famous Nicolas Cage, who wonderfully essays the role of Damon MacReady, aka Big Daddy. Cage pretty much riffs on his own well-known movie persona as you'll see many characters (both good and bad!) in his portrayal; Cage's Big Daddy persona is essentially a copy of Adam West's Batman from the 1960s and it is a hoot! The aforementioned Moretz plays Big Daddy's daughter and partner in superhero-dom Hit Girl. The scenes of Cage quizzing Moretz are really funny and witty.
Also great are Mark Strong (as the movie's main villain gangster Frank D'Amico)and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (as his eager-to-please teen son Chris, aka Red Mist). The movie is very well-cast.
The dialogue is by-the-numbers and simple, yet still very witty and entertaining to listen to. There are a few cheesy parts, but by and large, it's a funny script. Part of the minuses for me were that at times the movie feels like an odd mix of realism and fantasy, as well as comedy and violence. On the one hand, you have the all-too-realistic scenes with Kick Ass, but then you have the over-the-top, flashy stuff of Hit Girl. Also, there is real disturbing violence in this movie, including a death by fire that is hard to watch, and the aforementioned stabbing. No way can someone take their kids to see a movie like this, yet the main characters are kids!
But, KICK ASS is definitely one of the better done homages I've seen in a while and the cast is very engaging and does a fine job with a solid script. KICK ASS...I'll recommend it, but only for adults!