When a movie starts with a wanna-be action hero diving off a building with man-made wings but instead crashing to his death into a car, it's hard to know what other shocking surprises the viewer is in for. Dave is an ordinary teenager, invisible to girls and robbed of his lunch money, who decides he wants to be a super hero.
While his first attempt at fighting crime ends disastrously, he comes back stronger and more determined to make a difference. While defending a man against three thugs, he is recorded by a spectator's phone and becomes an overnight sensation.
Move over Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl is the Real Super Hero
In what at first seems a totally off topic story line, Nicholas Cage plays a creepy guy who likes shooting his daughter. Luckily, she is wearing a bullet proof vest, but he wants her to get used to being shot at so she won't flinch in the face of a real gun toting enemy. The daughter, who seems too innocent to be dealing with this type of stuff, just wants ice cream and bowling...along with butterfly knives.
These two diverse story lines suddenly and unexpectedly merge when Dave, as Kick-Ass, tries to get a thug to leave his crush alone. His arrogance at facing this man on his own should have been the end of him, but suddenly a masked girl shows up and saves him, killing everyone else in the room in the process. As soon as Hit-Girl makes her appearance, the rest of the movie builds up steam and maintains momentum until the climactic battle scene.
The Many Different and Bloody ways to seek Vengeance
This movie is not for the faint of heart, and it's certainly not for children. It's been a long time since I've seen a movie where so many people are killed with such brutality and violence...and most of them are killed by an eleven year old girl. Her father, Nicholas Cage as Big Daddy, kills just over a dozen, while Kick-Ass himself blows away about half a dozen during the final battle.
Hit-Girl is portrayed by Chloe Moretz, who steals every scene she is in. It's hard to imagine how such a little girl can pull off some of those amazing stunts, but there are gasp worthy special effects. Whether or not it's her doing all that jumping and flipping or if they managed to get a very small stunt woman, all her scenes are downright spectacular.
Hit-Girl Steals the Movie
There should be a sequel titled Hit-Girl where she continues in her endeavor to seek vengeance on anyone who has wronged someone she cares about. This reviewer would certainly pay to see her in action once again.
That being said, the movie involves sex between high school students as well as the tragic death of a good guy along with a few tense moments where it's unclear if the movie will end well. Surprisingly enough, it ends with a chuckle.
Kick-Ass is highly recommended for anyone who likes movies with strong women (or girls) in strong fighting roles such as those famous characters played by Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Garner. Even though it's titled after a male super hero, it was actually Hit-Girl's movie....and she shines.
- Distributed by Lionsgate
- 117 minutes
- Rated R
- 4/5 stars
Judith Lee - Judith has been a writer for over two decades. She is also a blogger and book/movie reviewer.
