Kick Ass

Welcome to another episode of The "D" List.

Today's review is Kick Ass. Directed by Matthew Vaughn. Written by Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn. Based on the Kick Ass comic created by Mark Millar and John S. Romita Jr.

With the overflow of comic book adaptations that grace our summer movie screens each year, it's very easy to just cast some of them aside due to an overabundance of the genre. It's with this particular film that I have discovered a great misconception with comic book films. Films like Kick Ass barring the inclusion of a massive cult following don't do as well as Batman, Superman, or even "gagging sound effect" Fantastic Four because partly due to the fact that the general movie going public confuse a comic book film with a superhero film. Not all comic book films have superheroes in them but in most cases that is what people think when they go see a comic book film.

Kick Ass takes that confusion away the moment it's 1st trailer debuted.

The story takes us to NY City. Dave Lizewski played by Aaron Johnson is a normal teenage nobody that has a very small social life and smaller group of friends. One day while hanging out in a local comic book store with his buddies he gets into a philosophical debate about how nobody tries to become a super hero. His friends just mock the notion but Dave persists in questioning the reasoning behind why people don't don a cape and cowl to help defend their city and fellow citizens. It's only after he's mugged that he decides to follow his own idea and presto........Kick Ass is born.

It's here where Kick Ass gets fun because by this point you are introduced to all of the main characters. Highlighted by Mark Strong as crime boss Frank D'Amico and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Chris D'Amico/Red Mist and Nicolas Cage as Big Daddy. But the highlight of the cast is Chloe Grace Moretz and Mindy Macready otherwise known as Hit Girl. The supporting cast all blend well together and give you the feel that they were the right people for their parts.

Sadly this is where the fun stops....or begins depending on your point of view.

I went into this film with no prior knowledge of the source material. I have never read the Kick Ass books and in some cases that helps when you are not familiar with the source material but in this case for me it hurts because the film suffers an identity crisis. Kick Ass doesn't know what it wants to be. It's part comedy, part action, part drama, part comic book. There are too many "cooks" in the kitchen so to speak and as a result you get a jumbled narrative.

This was disappointing for me because I saw a great film here but somewhere along the ride it gets lost in all of the blood, guts, bullets and F bombs. The script is tight with some well written dialogue and some pretty good laughs but then the story turns on itself when it goes into action mode. The fight sequences while fun to see were over the top and VERY violent so leave the little ankle biters home for this one. The other issue with the story is the mood change. I'm going back to the too many cooks thought. When the film is in comic book mode it feels like a comic book. And so on with the comedy and action. Then the film goes dramatic and you just can't buy it. It almost feels like the film is taking itself seriously when it gets to the dramatic scenes. No good.

Overall, Kick Ass is a pretty decent film but it was tough to decipher due to the constant switcheroo with the plot themes and emotions. I think i'll get the books and give them a gander. If they read like the way the movie played then my opinion may change. Until then.......Here's what I thought.

On the 5 star scale. Kick Ass gets 2.5 stars with a split "Go See It/Netflix It" Recommendation.

That's all for today. Up next is The Losers followed by Iron Man II.

Until Next Episode....."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"