Dave Lizewski(Aaron Johnson) is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan with a few friends and who lives alone with his father. His life is not very difficult and his personal trials not that overwhelming. However, one day he makes the simple decision to become a super-hero even though he has no powers or training. As he tries to become the hero he dreams of, he inadvertantly catches the attention of a local crime boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), who will stop at nothing to make an example of Kick Ass.

Move over Spiderman, stand aside X-Men, there’s a new hero in town. No it’s not Kick Ass… it’s Hit Girl(Chloe Moretz) and she steals the show hands down. She provides a nerdgasm of ultra violent comic book action that will be hard to beat by any of the big guns. Who’d a thunk a 13 year old actress could pull off such a role… and the lines… handling the dual personalities between Mindy and Hit Girl with the skills of a seasoned actor. If Moretz wasn’t in demand before, this is the role that will put her up there! Even Nicholas Cage as Big Daddy shines with his hilarious Adam West impersonation, easily one of his best performances in a long time. If Batman carried guns… In fact every cast member delivers on the performances, no matter how small. Kick Ass delivers the goods as one of the best comic book hero movies ever made. Although touted as a super hero comedy, the comedy is sharp and smart but never over indulgent. The scenes with Clark Duke(Sex Drive,Hot Tub Time Machine) and Evan Peters (Never Back Down) offer up most of the comic elements, but they never distract from the core of the film. There are times you will laugh out loud, and minutes later your jaw will hit the floor with a ballet of violence that leaves you speechless. The Big Daddy warehouse infiltration is one of the best scenes in the movie, violent,dark,and easily comparable to some of the best action sequences in The Dark Knight. Kick Ass doesn’t hold back, and just when you thought you’ve seen everything action movies have to offer…a cute and innocent looking 13 year old little girl comes along and completely blows your mind!

Based on the Mark Millar(Wanted) comic series, director Mathew Vaughn (Stardust) does a fantastic job bringing these characters to the big screen. The pacing here is pitch perfect and the soundtrack is made up of awesome, but familiar bits with a splash of perfectly suited songs. There’s just so much here to like and although not necessarily for everyone, comic book/action film fans will not be disappointed.

The only problem I have with the film is the marketing campaign… way too much was given away in the trailers and clips, leaving very little surprise… I just couldn’t help feeling that if I didn’t already see that in the trailer, my excitement and satisfaction would have been doubled… but that’s not gonna prevent me from giving it a perfect score. Kick-Ass lives up to and exceeds the hype!

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