Superbad

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 1/7/08 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions

Directed by Greg Mottola and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Superbad tells the story of two high school boys whose days of high school is about to finish. Deciding to go out in style where they were invited to a party, one of their friends is asked to supply alcohol where after a robbery gone bad, the boy gets the attention of two inept cops who use him to relive their youth. With Judd Apatow as a producer, the film is a raunchier film than Apatow's other material as his cohorts Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg recount the days of their youth. Starring Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac, Bill Hader, and Seth Rogen. Superbad is a hilarious and boisterous comedy from Greg Mottola.

It's near the end of the school year as Evan (Michael Cera) and Seth (Jonah Hill) are hoping to score some chicks and such as they're both set to separate with Evan going to Dartmouth in the fall. Joining Evan to Dartmouth is their friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) who also hopes to join in a graduation party. When Seth hears that Jules (Emma Stone) is having a party, she asks if he can supply the beer. Seth is excited as he hopes to use the beer to score with Jules while Evan decides to go as after he managed to convince a girl he likes named Becca (Martha MacIsaac) if she wants to go. She says yes and asks him if he could bring a special vodka. Though Evan and Seth don’t have a Fake ID, Fogell manages to score one under the alias, McLovin'.

McLovin' tries to score some beer with a Fake ID only to be assaulted by a robber. With Evan and Seth looking on outside, they're convinced that Fogell is in trouble with the cops as Seth gets hit by a car as the driver named Francis (Joe Lo Truglio) tries to apologize by taking them to a party. Fogell meanwhile, is interrogated by two cops named Slater (Bill Hader) and Michaels (Seth Rogen) as they take McLovin' to some wild shenanigans where he becomes accepted. Seth and Evan meanwhile, arrive at Francis' party where he gets beat up by its host Mark (Kevin Corrigan) while things get crazy when Evan is forced to sing to some drunken guys while Seth has an encounter with Mark’s girlfriend (Carla Gallo) that gets him in trouble. Seth and Evan leave with two detergent containers worth of booze yet the tension between the two boys start to rise over Evan's departure to Dartmouth.

After Fogell's night out with Slater and Michaels, things get tense when an encounter with Seth and Evan lead to some trouble as the three boys finally managed to escape the cops with Fogell carrying the booze he managed to score at the liquor store hours earlier. After arriving to Jules' party, everything becomes great only until Evan and Seth realize their own flaws while McLovin' lives up to his name with some surprising help.

While the film is based on the teenage lives of both its writers and executive producers Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, it does have something relevant to men, teens and adults, who remember their high school lives. The film's plot is simple, two boys wanting to party, get laid, get drunk, and have a whole lot of fun. Yet, there's more to this story as Goldberg and Rogen focus on the film's core story about these two young men and their long-standing friendship that is about to end. That plot device also leads to a conflict between the two boys as the more abrasive Seth is angry at the very sensitive Evan over this departure and as the film develops, secrets are unveiled and they're not really the same people in the beginning of the film.

One subplot that balances the film's study of teenage friendship is the story that involves Fogell and the two cops he hang around, who are trying to relive their own youths after feeling disappointed by in the world of adulthood. Goldberg and Rogen are definitely smart enough to create stories that men can relate to while for women, it gives them an ideas of what guys are and even though it's from the perspective of guys, not men. Women might relate to their own youths of young woman who probably also want to get drunk and party as well. The humor overall is very raunchy, far more raunchier than the films that Judd Apatow directed due to its coarse dialogue that is definitely shocking to some audiences. Yet, teenagers do talk like that, they think about sex, they watch sex, that's what being a teenager is.

Director Greg Mottola understands that as well as his direction is solid throughout. From its opening credits that is in the style of 1970s cinema, the film has a 70s feel of sorts with its funk-drenched music, ode to porno films, and hilarious situations. Yet, there's also a modern feel that plays to the film's humor. A lot of it has a spontaneous feel with the action being a bit unexpected and such. Still, Mottola lets the actors act in a relaxed approach as he gives them a moment from the comedy yet still manage to let them be funny. Even through wild antics as the film definitely brings laugh after laugh after laugh. Overall, Mottola's direction is superb.

Cinematographer Russ T. Alsobrook does some fine work with the film's look, notably the exterior nighttime sequences that are awash with sepia-color tones and yellow lights along with the film's interior scenes for the parties. Editor William Kerr does some nice work for the film's editing as it manages to have a nice, leisurely pace to help with the film's humor along with some great transitional cuts. Production designer Chris L. Spellman & art director Gerald Sullivan do excellent work on the look of the parties including the home of Mark in all of its debauchery while costume designer Debra McGuire does fine work in the look of the clothes that looks very contemporary. Sound editor George H. Anderson is also good with the film’s sound, notably the use of sirens, car squeals, and such to convey the action. The drawings of Seth's penis doodles are wonderfully drawn by Evan Goldberg's brother David.

The score of Lyle Workman is excellent with its homage to 70s funk that is very bouncy courtesy of legendary Parliament-Funkadelic members Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell in their respective playing of the bass and keyboards. The rest of the soundtrack is filled with loads of 70s funk and soul music that includes KC & the Sunshine Band, the Four Tops, The Bar-Kays, Guess Who, Rick James, and other assorted cuts from Ted Nugent & the Amboy Dukes, Nugent by himself, the Rapture, Motorhead, and Van Halen. It's a killer soundtrack that is fun to listen to.

The cast is overall brilliant feature appearances from David Krumholtz and Martin Starr as party guys, Erica Vittina Phillips as the liquor store cashier, Carla Gallo as Mark's girlfriend, and Seth Rogen's father Mark as a man chasing Seth and Evan with a bat. Brooke Dillman is funny as the home economics teacher while Clement Blake is great as a drunken wino, Matthew Bass as a star of a porno Seth, Evan, and Fogell watch with cameos from porno actresses Aurora Snow and Jenna Haze. Roger Iwami as Evan's classmate Miroki, Laura Seay as Jules' friend Shirley, Marcella Lentz-Pope as Becca's friend Gabby, Joe Nunez as a liquor store clerk, and Aviva Farber as Fogell's crush Nicola.

Joe Lo Truglio of The State fame is funny as the creepy Francis, a driver who hits Seth while trying to get them to a party while Kevin Corrigan plays Francis' former friend Mark with a lot of attitude as a dude who doesn't like to be messed with. Stacy Edwards, known to indie fans as the deaf woman in In the Company of Men, is funny as Evan's mother whom Seth seems to have a crush on her because of her cleavage. Emma Stone is amazing as Jules, the girl Seth has a crush on her as she reveals that though she likes to party, she isn't really a wild person. Martha MacIsaac meanwhile, is also good as Becca, the girl Evan likes as she hopes to win him over but in a way that forces Evan to rethink things. Bill Hader and Seth Rogen are hilarious as the two cops Slater and Michaels as two inept men who are trying to relive their youth and wild ways through Fogell.

Jonah Hill is very funny as the boisterous, profane Seth as his performance is really the funniest of the film with the excessive use of the word "fuck" while often saying obscene things about sex and body parts. Hill's performance is definitely a highlight as he is the wildest character of the entire film. Michael Cera is great as the more sensitive Evan, the young man who wants to do things right while trying to come to terms about the end of his friendship with Seth. Cera's performance is the perfect counterpoint to Hill's more abrasive performance as the two have great chemistry that it's in the tradition of most comedy duos. The film's best performance and scene-stealer is newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fogell aka McLovin'. Mintz-Plasse's performance is truly phenomenal as this nerdy, skinny kid who tries to act like the coolest kid in the world yet unwittingly gets himself into a strange situation. Often the foil for Seth's jokes, he ends up becoming the coolest character of the film as he tries to act like a total gangsta while managing to be one of the greatest guys ever on film.

Superbad is a remarkable film from Greg Mottola. Armed with a great that includes Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Emma Stone, Bill Hader, and Seth Rogen. It's a film that manages to explore the exuberance and uncertainty of youth while telling it in such a raunchy and uncompromising way. In the end, Superbad is a fun and exciting film from Greg Mottola.

© thevoid99 2015

Neighbors (2014 film)

Directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O’Brien, Neighbors is the story of a couple with a newborn baby who learns that their new neighbors is a college fraternity who creates trouble for the couple as a war breaks in. The film is a comedy that explores the generation gap of sorts as a couple tries to deal with their new family life as well as the horde of frat boys living next door. Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Lisa Kudrow. Neighbors is a raucous yet hilarious film from Nicholas Stoller.

Being parents and being responsible isn’t easy as the film is about a couple with a newborn baby who learn that their new neighbors is a college fraternity that creates a lot of chaos and such forcing the parents to fight back in order to protect their family. Yet, it’s a film that is much more as it explores not just the fear of growing up but also in being adults and not having the kind of fun they once had as young adults. Particularly as Mac and Kelly Radner (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, respectively) want to have fun but they have their daughter Stella to worry about. While they try to be cool with the Delta Psi fraternity led by its president Teddy (Zac Efron) and its vice-president Pete (Dave Franco) where they would party with them. It would only cause trouble when Mac and Kelly break a promise from Teddy about not calling the cops as a war between the Radners and the Delta Psi fraternity emerges where things do get out of control.

The film’s screenplay doesn’t just explore the themes about growing up, being responsible, and the desire to have fun but the characters themselves as Mac and Kelly do want to be good parents to Stella yet they struggle with missing out on the things some of their friends do. While Mac may be the more jovial of the two, he tries to balance that with being responsible as he has a job while Kelly stays at home as she struggles with wanting to be more outgoing. Upon their encounters with the Delta Psi fraternity, Mac and Kelly don’t want to be the un-cool adults but the antics of the fraternity gets out of control as Teddy wants to do something that would ensure his place among the legends of the Delta Psi fraternity. While Pete has that same goal, he would eventually realize that things have come to far as it would play to not just Teddy’s fear of becoming an adult but also in the fact that he doesn’t want to grow up.

Nicholas Stoller’s direction is very lively throughout as he definitely knows how to keep the laughs going without being too repetitive. While much of the compositions in the close-ups and medium shots are pretty simple, there are elements in the film that manages to be visually-entrancing such as some of the party scenes as it is an ode to Gaspar Noe’s 2009 film Enter the Void. There’s also moments where the antics and the war that goes on do become very physical as well as play to a sense of chaos while Stoller knows when to slow things down. Particularly as the stakes get higher where Teddy and Delta Psi are one step away from being shut down while Mac and Kelly struggle with their own actions as it would affect their relationship. All of which would play into this extravagant climax as it is about not just one great party but how the characters would grow from everything they had done as it mixes humor and action. Overall, Stoller creates a very exciting and very funny film about growing up and wanting to have fun.

Cinematographer Brandon Trost does fantastic work with the cinematography for some of the film‘s nighttime interior scenes filled with dazzling colors and grainy cell-phone camera footage while keeping much of its exterior and daytime interior scenes in a straightforward manner. Editor Zene Baker does excellent work with the editing with its emphasis on jump-cuts and other array of rhythmic cuts and montages to play into the humor and chaotic vibe of the party scenes. Production designer Julie Berghoff, with set decorator Sophie Neudorfer and art director Gary Warshaw, does superb work with the look of the Radner home as well as Delta Psi fraternity house.

Costume designer Leesa Evans does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly straightforward along with the design of some of the costumes the fraternity wears in their Robert de Niro party. Sound editor Michael Babcock does terrific work with the sound from the way some of the party sounded from the Radner home to the sense of chaos that goes on in the pranks that Delta Psi create. The film’s music by Michael Andrews is a wonderful mix of light-hearted folk music with some electronic music while music supervisors Manish Raval and Tom Wolfe create this chaotic soundtrack filled with electronic music, hip-hop, and rock to play into vibe of the fraternity parties.

The casting by Melissa Kostenbauder and Francine Maisler is incredible as the ensemble features some notable small performances from Halston Sage as Teddy’s girlfriend Brooke, Ali Corbin as Brooke’s friend Whitney, Craig Roberts as a fraternity pledge named Assjuice, Hannibal Burress as the campus officer Watkins, Elise and Zoey Vargas as Mac and Kelly’s baby daughter Stella, and Lisa Kudrow in a small yet terrific performance as the college dean who is concerned about making good headlines while warning Teddy and his fraternity about their actions. Other notable small roles include Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Mintz-Plasse in very funny performances in their respective roles as fraternity members Garf and Scoonie. Carla Gallo is wonderful as Mac and Kelly’s friend Paula who likes to party while Ike Barinholtz is superb as Paula’s ex-husband Jimmy who also likes to party as he helps Mac and Kelly in their plans.

Dave Franco is excellent as the Delta Psi vice president Pete who is Teddy’s right-hand man as he later becomes a conscience of sorts in the film when Teddy’s pranks start to get more out of control. Zac Efron is great as Teddy as the fraternity leader who wants to create the ultimate fraternity party and have a good time while dealing with the fear of life after college as Efron proves to be very funny as he has some great moments with his co-stars. Rose Byrne is amazing as Kelly Radner as this housewife that is trying to balance her in being wife/mother and the cool woman as Byrne shows her comedic chops in very wild ways as she also radiates some chemistry with her co-star Seth Rogen. Rogen is fantastic as Mac Radner as a man who wants to be cool and fun but deals with the responsibility in being a parent as he tries to protect his family but also not be a total villain to Teddy as it’s a role that his Rogen being an adult but also one is quite fun to watch.

Neighbors is a hilarious and wild comedy from Nicholas Stoller that features superb performances from Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne. It’s a comedy that keeps on bringing the laughs through and through while also having an engaging story that audiences can relate to. Especially in the way it explores about the fear of adulthood and losing the joy in having fun while having a family. In the end, Neighbors is an excellent film from Nicholas Stoller.

Nicholas Stoller Films: Forgetting Sarah Marshall - (Get Him to the Greek) - (The Five-Year Engagement) - Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising - (Storks (2016 film))

© thevoid99 2014

How to Train Your Dragon

Based on Cressida Cowell’s book, How to Train Your Dragon tells the story of a young Viking teenager who captures a mysterious dragon in hopes to gain acceptance from his father and tribe. Instead, he befriends the dragon whom he starts to care for and help create a prosthetic tail to help him fly. Directed Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois with an adapted script by Sanders, DeBlois, and Will Davies. The computer-animated film is among one of Dreamworks Animations finest projects to date eschewing their more entertaining stories for something more profound. With a voice cast that includes Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller, and Craig Ferguson. How to Train Your Dragon is a thrilling yet heartwarming film from Dreamworks Animation studio.

All Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) ever wanted was to win the approval of his Viking chief father Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler) yet always end up causing trouble with his strange ideas. While he works as an apprentice for the blacksmith Gobber the Belch (Craig Ferguson), Hiccup wants to prove himself by capturing and kill a dragon as the island he and other Vikings live in are often under attack by dragons. The most dangerous dragon is the Night Fury whose speed and fire power is beyond anything that other dragons could do. Hiccup manages to capture one as he later finds the dragon only to realize that it’s afraid as he lets it go only to realize it lost part of its tail. With Stoick asking Gobber to train Hiccup to attack dragons as he goes on shore leave to find the nest, Hiccup reluctantly takes part in dragon training.

During his time with the Night Fury whom he calls Toothless, Hiccup learns about the dragon where he uses his knowledge to deal with other dragons during his training. Once the trouble-making outcast, Hiccup becomes the top student of dragon training though Astrid (America Ferrera) seems suspicious over Hiccup’s frequent disappearances. With Stoick learning about Hiccup’s progress at dragon training, he seems impressed as he hopes Hiccup will kill his first dragon. When Astrid discovers Hiccup’s secret that included creating a prosthetic tail for Toothless, the two make an even bigger discovery during an impromptu flight to the dragon lair. When Stoick eventually learns what Hiccup had been doing all along and the dragon’s nest, he makes a trip to the lair with a captured Toothless. Realizing that his father is walking towards danger, it’s up to Hiccup, Astrid, their friends, and other dragons to help out.

Since Dreamworks Animations founding in 1998 with its first film Antz, which was a computer-animated film, the studio has been making films that always try to provide a much more family-friendly kind of entertainment towards its audience. Yet, those films have often been peppered with pop culture references to keep younger audiences excited but always tend to lose focus for the story. With this film, directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois along with co-screenwriter Will Davies stray from that kind of humor for something much more profound while retaining some of the humor that has kept Dreamworks Animation successful.

Since the film is about a young Viking teenager trying to win his father’s approval while befriending a dragon. The character of Hiccup is one filled with conflict since he suddenly cares for this dragon that he’s captured and help make it fly again by creating a prosthetic tail. Yet, he also wants to prove to the Vikings that everything they knew about dragons were wrong while wanting his father to accept him. Yet, the character of Stoick isn’t a one-dimensional father that is very ignorant and wanting his son to be like him. He’s also someone who is unsure if he’s raising him right while wanting to protect him from all sorts of danger. The emphasis on character development and creating something more full-fledge allows the story to progress without having to dwell into any tricks. The dragons that Hiccup encounters, notably Toothless, have a personality all to their own which helps Hiccup understand these creatures.

The direction of the film by Sanders and DeBlois is truly spectacular as they go for something that is both rough in its landscapes but also broader in its scope. Taking on a much more textured look for the rocks and caverns plus the islands that Hiccup and Toothless encounter, there is a more life-like feel to the way these landscapes look that is similar to what Pixar studios have done. Still, Sanders and DeBlois do retain a cartoonish look to the characters and the dragons while making them seem a bit real and lively. The overall work in the animation and look to the film is phenomenal as Sanders and DeBlois create a moving yet visually-dazzling film.

Helping the directors to create the lighting and visual beauty of the film is renowned cinematographer Roger Deakins. Known mostly for his work with the Coen Brothers and having contributed his services to Pixar’s 2008 film WALL-E. Deakins work as a visual consultant help give the film a look that is livelier and more realistic that strays away from the cartoonish look of previous films. The overall look and photography that Deakins provides is truly amazing. Editors Maryann Brandon and Darren T. Holmes do some excellent work with the editing by creating some intense, fast-paced cuts for some of the flying scenes and action sequences while maintaining a leisured, straightforward approach for the dramatic moments of the film.

Production designer Kathy Altieri and art director Pierre-Olivier Vincent do a superb job with the look of the island and its homes along with the dome where Hiccup and his friends train in and the secret nest that Toothless takes Hiccup and Astrid to. Sound designer Randy Thom and sound editor Jonathan Null do great work in the sound from the fire-breathing sounds of the dragons to the creaking of ships in the sea for its climatic battle. The film’s score by John Powell is definitely a major highlight of the film as Powell’s score is filled with sweeping orchestral arrangements with bombastic rhythms. Even as he fills the scores with layers of Scottish bagpipes and other woodwinds to add flair and emotion to the musical pieces. Also in the film’s soundtrack is Jonsi’s Sticks & Stones which is a wonderful companion piece that is played during the final credits.

The voice is cast is definitely brilliant as it features small voice roles from Ashley Jensen and David Tennant as a couple of Vikings while Kristen Wiig and T.J. Miller are funny as the battling twins Ruffnot and Tuffnot, respectively. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is very good as the nervous but book-smart Fishlegs while Jonah Hill is excellent as the arrogant but dim Snotlout. America Ferrera is wonderful as Astrid, a tough Viking girl who discovers Hiccup’s secret while learning why the dragons were trying to steal food from the Vikings. Craig Ferguson is great in a very funny role as peg-legged and one-armed Gobber, a blacksmith who tries to help Stoick about Hiccup while teaching the young boy about dragons and such.

Gerard Butler is brilliant as Stoick, a Viking leader who wants to protect Hiccup while trying to make him into a great Viking warrior only to realize how different he is. Finally, there’s Jay Baruchel who is amazing in providing the voice for Hiccup as Baruchel brings a sense of confusing and curiosity to a young boy striving to win his father’s approval. Particularly as he gains understanding about the creatures he’s learned to hunt for only to have a bigger appreciation for them.

How to Train Your Dragon is a marvelous film from Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois that truly brings not just a wonderful sense of entertainment but with a story that is touching and engaging. With a great visual look and a superb score from John Powell, it is definitely a film that truly can go toe-to-toe with the array of great films that Pixar has made since the mid-1990s. In comparison to the films that Dreamworks Animation has made, this film is undoubtedly their best film so far as How to Train Your Dragon is a stunning achievement for that studio.

© thevoid99 2011

Kick-Ass

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 6/8/10 w/ Additional Edits.

Since the emergence of comic-book based superheroes with films like Superman in 1978, Batman in 1989, and Spider-Man in 2002.  The comic book hero film genre definitely became popular with movie-goers but in recent years.  It's become parodied and also underwhelming.  2009's highly-anticipated film adaptation of the brilliant graphic novel Watchmen was a commercial disappointment while other comic-book driven films seem to have lost its edge in recent years.  In 2010, British director Matthew Vaughn decided to delve into the world of comic-book based vigilantes from a comic book by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. called Kick-Ass.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn with an adapted script by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, Kick-Ass tells the story of a high school teenager who decides to become a masked superhero following a mugging he suffered.  When he gets attention from the internet, a 12-year old girl and her former policeman father decide to become masked vigilantes of their own.  When a fourth masked vigilante joins, they all team up to go fight a drug lord.  A mixture of superhero mythology mixed in with real-life situations, the film is an entertaining yet provocative take on the world of superheroes.  Starring Aaron Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Lyndsey Fonesca, plus Vaughn associate Mark Strong, and Nicolas Cage.  Kick-Ass is a film that delivers in its namesake and more.

Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) is a regular high school kid who is invisible to nearly everyone including his crush in Katie Deauxma (Lyndsey Fonesca).  Though he has two comic-book loving friends in Marty (Clark Duke) and Todd (Evan Peters), Dave wonders about the idea of how people become superheroes.  When he and Todd were mugged while an innocent bystander watches and does nothing.  Dave decides to become a superhero by buying a scuba suit and become his own superhero called Kick-Ass.  Unfortunately, his first attempt by going after the muggers he's been mugged by doesn't go well as planned where he also got hit by a car.

Though he does finally get Katie's attention over the injury, he is amazed only to learn that she think he's gay because of what he did while being in an ambulance.  After another attempt to become a hero, Dave manages to succeed where he saves someone from a beating where Kick-Ass becomes an Internet sensation.  Kick-Ass gets the attention of not just mob boss Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong) and his teenage son Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse).  A former cop named Damon McCready (Nicolas Cage) and his 12-year old daughter Mindy (Chloe Grace Moretz) also saw the report about Kick-Ass as they decided to go in the vigilante business.  Even when Katie have told Dave about a drug dealer who had been harassing her.  Dave as Kick-Ass tries to deal with the drug dealer where he would meet Mindy's new alter-ego known as Hit-Girl.

After being contacted by Hit-Girl and Damon as Big Daddy about working with them, Dave tries to deal with the fact that he's got two vigilantes to deal with who are better than him at the job.  Meanwhile, Frank becomes upset over the deaths of his thugs along with some lost money.  He suspects Kick-Ass is behind this as Chris pleas to help him by becoming his own masked superhero named Red Mist.  After contacting Kick-Ass, Red Mist decides to team-up in order to go fight some crime.  Yet, when a lumber factory that is really one of Frank's business in disguise is burned down.  Chris reveals to his dad what is really going on as they realize the key to the man who really destroyed his place is finding Kick-Ass.

Dave however, decides to quit for a while until he gets contacted by Red Mist where he reluctantly plays the Kick-Ass role again.  What happens becomes a trap for all of the vigilantes as Damon's motives against Frank are revealed.  Then, they get some surprising help to fight Frank and the mob.

The film is a mixture of a lot of ideas relating to world of vigilantes and the mythology of superheroes.  Yet, it's really about a young guy trying to find his place in the world by becoming a superhero despite the fact that he doesn't have great fighting skills nor any kind of superpowers.  Just a suit, a mask, two batons, and the determination to do good.  Yet, it becomes overwhelming when he's dealing with two very skilled and inventive vigilantes and another one who is getting attention for taking down a mob figure.

It's not just Dave who is having problems in just being Kick-Ass while trying to balance it with being himself.  His fellow vigilantes also have issues.  Director Matthew Vaughn and co-screenwriter Jane Goldman definitely delve into the psychology of the world of vigilantes and their motive to fight crime.  Particularly Damon McCready aka Big Daddy whose motives to take down Frank D'Amico is more to do with what happened to him when was he sent to prison that would lead to the death of his wife during the birth of their daughter Mindy.  Though she was raised by Damon's former partner Marcus (Omari Hardwick) until age 5 when Damon was released.  She would be raised into a killing machine though Damon would hope for her to have a normal childhood.

Then there's Chris D'Amico, the fourth vigilante who is really just a kid just wanting to seek the attention of his mob boss father.  Yet, he also wants to live up to being the heir to his dad's empire knowing he's a mob boss.  Though Frank D'Amico tries to hide it, he also has a hard time trying to be a dad until Chris gives him the idea to go and find Kick-Ass.   The screenplay is truly complex and layered as it delves not just into the characters but the places they're surrounded by.  Notably the world of comic books that both Dave and Chris are interested in.  Even as there is a sense of melancholia about the way the real world works in relation to what the superheroes go through once their job is done.

Matthew Vaughn's direction is truly energetic in its mixture of action and comedy while giving audiences a break for some dramatic scenes as well as dabbles of humor.  Vaughn also made sure the film doesn't play up to the clichés of recent comic-book based superhero films.  Even as he goes to extremes to create something that is edgy, engaging, and entertaining.  At the same time, that edginess can also bring some discomfort to some viewers.  Particularly the idea of a 12-year old girl killing people in such a gruesome manner as well as saying some profane language.  Vaughn has made it clear that this is not a typical comic-book superhero film.  Even as it includes sexual situations and loads of graphic violence.

Vaughn's direction for many of the action sequences are stylized with slow-motion cuts and sometimes, fast-paced moments of violence.  Yet, Vaughn definitely understands what is needed for an action film.  Even when he mixes it with humor.  The overall work is brilliant as Vaughn creates what is definitely his best film yet as a director so far.

Cinematographer Ben Davis brings a colorful yet pristine look that isn‘t too polished in trying to make the film look like a comic book of sorts.  Editors Pierto Scalia, Eddie Hamilton, & Jon Harris do excellent work in the editing to capture the intensity of the action while slowing things down for the humor and dramatic moments of the film.  Production designer Russell De Rozario, along with set decorator Tina Jones and supervising art director John King do incredible work with the look of the film from the building and offices of Frank D'Amico to the comic book store that Dave hangs out at.  

Costume designer Sammy Sheldon does a nice job with the costumes as Dave‘s Kick-Ass suit looks quite ordinary while the suits of Big Daddy and Hit Girl have more personality to match their own personas.  Sound editor Danny Sheehan does a great job with the sound work to capture atmosphere of the film's action sequences including recreating the sounds of weapons for the film's climatic battle scene.

The film's music features score work by Marius de Vries, Underworld's John Murphy, Henry Jackman, & Ilan Eshkeri is a wonderful mixture of electronic music, rock, and punk.  Notably the soundtrack features some cuts by the Prodigy, Primal Scream, Joan Jett, Sparks, Gnarls Barkley, the New York Dolls, Elvis Presley, and Ennio Morricone with his theme from For A Few Dollars More.  The soundtrack is exciting yet diverse while it also features some of John Murphy's work from Danny Boyle's 2007 film Sunshine.

The casting by Sarah Finn and Lucinda Syson is phenomenal and inspiring as it features several standout roles including cameos from late night talk show Craig Ferguson as himself, Elizabeth McGovern as Dave's mother, Yancy Butler as Chris' mother, and from Matthew Vaughn's stock of regular actors.  Dexter Fletcher and Jason Flemyng as a couple of D'Amico's goons.  Other notable small roles include Deborah Twiss as Dave's English schoolteacher who bares her cleavage, Sophie Wu as Katie's friend Erika, Kofi Natei as a drug dealer, and Stu "Large" Riley as Chris' bodyguard.  Notable standout supporting roles from Xander Berkley as the corrupt Detective Gigante, Michael Rispoli as Frank's sidekick Big Joe, and Omari Hardwick as Damon's former partner Marcus are all very good.  Clark Duke and Evan Peters are also very good as Dave's funny best friends who both share a love of comics and girls.

Lyndsey Fonesca is very good as Katie, Dave's school crush who mistakes him for being gay while learning about her own problems while being fascinated by the world of comics.  Mark Strong is great as Frank D'Amico, a mob boss who is trying to be a good dad while trying to run a business as he deals with some foes.  Christopher Mintz-Plasse is superb as Chris D'Amico/Red Mist, a kid who wants his dad's attention while being his own superhero as Mintz-Plasse gets more to do rather than play the McLovin' character from Superbad.  Nicolas Cage is marvelous as Damon McCready/Big Daddy, a former cop wanting vengeance while finding a chance to become a vigilante as Cage gives a performance that isn't over-the-top.

Newcomer Aaron Johnson is excellent as Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass, the title character who ponders the idea of being a superhero while struggling when that role when he plays Kick-Ass.  Johnson's performance is very realistic in how young teens try to deal with their own awkwardness as the young British actor definitely stands out among his fellow cast members.  Finally, there's Chloe Grace Moretz in the role of Mindy McCready/Hit-Girl.  Moretz's performance is truly the highlight of the film as she can play sweet but also has a wit and sarcasm that is fun to watch while being the kind of young girl you don't want to mess with.

Kick-Ass is a remarkable film by Matthew Vaughn.  While it may not live up to a lot of the ideas and expectations of other comic book films.  It does succeed by being unconventional though it does kind of stray towards conventionality towards the end.  Fans of comic book superheroes will definitely enjoy this for the fact that it tries to be different and edgy.  Even as the comic book films are starting to run out of idea and just go for the big bucks.  In the end, Kick-Ass is a film that definitely kicks ass.

Matthew Vaughn Films:  (Layer Cake) - (Stardust) - X-Men: First Class - Kingsman: The Secret Service

© thevoid99 2011