Lives up to its title

Rating: 8/10 (27 March 2010)

Fans of the graphic novel - expect some pretty big changes; but to my mind they are there for cinematic reasons and make perfect sense. Kick Ass is a movie that really works, makes you care about the characters and delivers laughs and violence. Usually at the same time! The first half of the film sets things up perfectly: when shy high schooler Dave Lizewski decides to become a superhero he orders a wet suit on the internet, and goes out in search of superhero action.The sequence where he dons his "costume" for the first time is a treat, riffing on De Niro in Taxi Driver. Indeed the movie is full of pop culture references that are never heavy handed but pulled off with wit and style. Spider-Man, Tarantino, Clint Eastwood. You name it it's in there.
Will everyone really be getting all hot and bothered about Hit Girl's now infamous opening line? Nah, this is 2010. And besides, it's exactly the right thing to say! We also have something of a career resurrection for Nicholas Cage delivering a comic gem of a performance. However it's Aaron Johnson you'll remember - those puppy dog, Frodoesque eyes of his sticking out of that ridiculous costume! What a find he is. The cast are all terrific. Mark Strong seems to be everywhere at the moment, and he makes an excellent heavy. Chloe Moretz is also a fantastic Hit Girl. She made me believe that a 10 year old girl could make mincemeat out of the Mafia.
Have to say that things slacken occasionally around the mid-point, perhaps a little tighter editing would have helped, but this is a minor issue; in the main the film delivers big time. The end may cheese off some of the GN fans, as it's way way over the top: to me that was all part of the cinematic fun. The movie also has a great soundtrack, from Morricone to er, Sparks. Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn, the team behind the excellent Stardust, have got another winner here.