Kick Ass is about a teen superhero wannabe, called Kick Ass, who tries to kick ass but often gets his ass kicked by dicks who kick more ass than he can kick 'cause he's a bit of a douche.

If you enjoyed the style of that opening sentence then you should have a romping good time watching the film. It's silly, bloody, popcorn goodness. Even Nicholas Cage manages not to embarrass himself - just!

The film unashamedly wears its cinematic references and borrowings (Spiderman, The Matrix, e.t.c.) on its sleeve, whilst managing to construct a fairly interesting new addition to the superhero genre. The perkiness and quasi-subversive elements of the opening half hour do perhaps get lost amongst the fairly formulaic bulk of the film, but who cares when you're having this much fun right? The film is called Kick Ass after all; not Watchmen .

The fight scenes and action sequences are suitably creative, dramatic and amusing. There is something really satisfying about watching children/teenagers fight adults on a level playing field and winning! Even better, this isn't some twee "Kidz vs Grown Ups" way of winning (like putting tabasco sauce in Dad's pie!); more an opening up a can of serious whoop-ass on those SOBs type of winning. The zingers come thick and fast Schwarzenegger style too. I really wish they made a film like this when I was 15!

Thankfully, the inclusion of Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin) does not lead the film into the often sexist/racist Jud Apatow/Seth Rogan school of teen comedy which can leave you feeling dirty for "enjoying." There are perhaps some unnecessary comments derogative of homosexuality but given that this is a film largely about heterosexual teenage boys, such comments are realistic and do prove amusing in context.

In general the film, for all it's apparent controversy, is reasonably inoffensive. (WARNING! Clicking on that hyperlink is likely to cause EXTREME annoyance) The gore is played for cartoon-like laughs; as is the language, and the inclusion of the deadly 11 year old 'Hit Girl' character can be seen as a positive role model for young girls everywhere. A passive disney princess could never slaughter a corridor full of murderous goons! As for the Daily Mail bollocks (an easy target I know BUT REALLY!) about the film being 'evil' and eroticizing Hit Girl; there is no need to waste time on such stupidity! Did they get a boner over Astro Boy too? Look he's got is shirt off and everything! Sexy Bitch!

So there you have it, Kick Ass is a film which knows its audience and gives them what they want and it's definitely better than Superhero Movie. If you don't like good natured, well-crafted comic action films then go and watch Becoming Jane again...."you cunts".

7/10

RANDOM FACT - Brad Pitt was one of the producers for the film