The Bottom Line
Matthew Vaughn's a very smart filmmaker and he's chosen exactly the right style for every fight scene. It's obvious he was very careful to not make Chloe Moretz' slaying of hit men look realistic. You can actually imagine pop-up bubbles with KaPow! Bang! Splat! Wham! sprinkled throughout her killing sprees, and that makes the brutal violence of Hit Girl's scenes much easier to swallow.
Kick-Ass is a little slow out of the gate and has an unnecessary love story, but overall it is everything you want it to be and much more. Vaughn didn't compromise on the killings, didn't back off on the language, and made exactly the film he set out to make. And even though he didn't have the major funding from a studio, the effects, costumes, and entire production is first-rate and rivals any $200 million action film in its ability to blow you away with its stunning fight sequences.
Kiss-Ass is bloody and seriously violent, pushing the limits of its R-rating. But it's also hysterical and one of the best superhero movies that doesn't actually involve superheroes ever to hit theaters. See it once, and then see it again just to hear what you missed the first time around when the audience's laughter obliterated the follow-up jokes.
Poster from 'Kick-Ass.'
© Lionsgate FilmsGRADE: A-
Kick-Ass was directed by Matthew Vaughn and is rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use - some involving children.
Theatrical Release: April 16, 2010
