Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use – some involving children.
Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Stardust)
Starring Aaron Johnson and Nicolas Cage
No big surprise, Kick-Ass is total trash.
Kick-Ass tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name — Kick-Ass — assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There’s only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers.
His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes — including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) — and forges a friendship with another fledgling superhero, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). But thanks to the scheming of a local mob boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), that new alliance will be put to the test.
The first twenty minutes includes everything from a suicide, a severe beating, a stripping teacher, masturbation, and just about every character dropping the F-bomb including the 11-year old Chloe Moretz. Believe me when I say that it gets worse from there with drug use, sex, lots more swearing and violence (including microwaving one guy and crushing another in a car compactor).
The cast is pretty lame…especially Nicolas Cage who gives us his worst performance since The Wickerman. Not to mention he looks completely ridiculous in his Batman rip-off costume.
The sad thing is that the story about an average teenager wanting to “Help his fellow man” is actually very admirable. I was frustrated for the entire film thinking how great this movie could have been. Instead they decided to take every low road imaginable…it’s a Coaster.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Although every teenager you know may beg you to let them see this one, please understand it is complete trash.
Side Note:
We don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What was the theme (or the message) of this movie?
A: At the core of this movie is the classic David and Goliath story. Dave Lizewski (is it a coincidence his name is David?) is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.
Just like the shepherd boy named David thousands of years ago, Dave Lizewski steps up to the challenge and defeats evil.
Q: What can we—as serious Christ-followers—take away from this movie?
A: While we don’t recommend anyone running around with a sling shot and a handful of stones, we do seriously recommend carrying out God’s will with courage and boldness. Too often we give up when a challenge seems too big or too strong. But we need to remember Philippians 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: What challenges are in front of you right now? What obstacles are you facing that seem insurmountable? Who/what are your “giants”? Take some time to ask God for the courage and boldness to overcome them.
