I am not a follower of comic books so familiar with Kick-Ass I was not, though I understand that the Kick-Ass comic was written at the same time as the film’s script. Regardless, I loved the fresh take on comics – a genre that saw almost any possible corny approach. Even the better comics screen adaptations e.g. Spiderman of recent years, were not much original but rather relied on better acting, cooler effects and deeper emotional approach.
Kick-Ass is pure entertainment. Its bloody and vulgar at times, which is usually not my cup of tea, but when presented in the right context, (screen) violence can be fun... To a point it reminded me of Zombieland – with its exaggerated bloodshed, using the genre to poke fun at itself.
At its heart, Kick-Ass’ story actually follows closely the familiar comics super-hero plot-line, with its villain, corruption, city roofs, dark edge, and alike. There is even the villain’s son, who is set to follow in his father’s footsteps – the typical sequel prep for most comics films. Yet the choices made by both the writers and the director are fresh. And because the protagonists are only human, it leaves lots of room for play. For comic fans there are plenty of small references to other comics and super-hero films, while for the rest of the us, the film presents an opportunity to kick back and enjoy close to two hours of mindless fun.
Bottom line: Kick-Ass successfully marries comics, action and comedy, to form one hell of an engaging film.