Graphic, foul-mouthed and fun; Kick Ass sends comic book adaptations back to the drawing board.

Kick Ass (Matthew Vaughn)

Matthew Vaughns Kick Ass is an utterly cinematic creation which essentially blends the 80's teen wish fulfillment movies (Karate Kid, Flight of the Navigator) with the darker, edgier, infinitely more bloodthirsty noughties offerings of Quentin Tarantino and John Woo. In fact Tarantino looms large over the entire production from the expletive filled dialogue to the balletic gunplay,and its to Vaughans credit that he uses these influences to create something fresh and relevant rather than merely produce a pastiche of better movies. Vaughn has proved that he can direct a genre film and infuse it with enough individuality to raise it high above the usual superhero story and does so with such breathless enthusiasm for the subject matter that suspension of disbelief is deftly achieved right up until an incredulity stretching final reel. By then youre having so much fun that the essential ludicrousness of the plot becomes merely part of the ride.

While the graphic novel adaptation has become standard in recent years the transition from page to screen has often proved a problematic journey. 'Watchmen' failed because it was so busy weaving a bleak nihilstic portrait of an altermative post Nixon dystopia it forgot to include any meaningful characterisation and this is where Kick Ass ultimately succeeds. Imbetween the eye popping action sequences Dave's typically adolescent troubles of both the heart and the ego are genuinely entertaining and Aaron Johnson plays it with such winsome, wide eyed candour that you cant help but root for him. The film also isnt afraid of mocking the essential silliness at the heart of most super hero narratives instead seemingly revelling in the comic potential of using a brightly coloured costume and a neat line in good guy rhetoric to fight crime.  The supporting cast is great as well, (how long before Mark Strong gets a leading man role?) and Nic Cage finally gets the chance to have fun with a character rather than adopt that insufferable, world weary, thousand yard 'if only you had seen what i had seen' stare that permeates through so many of his performances. His 'Big Daddy' (conplete with scenery chewing, Adam West style delivery) along with Chloe Moretzs 'Hit Girl' make for a memorable double act. In fact Hit Girl may well be the star of the picture, a diminutive foul mouthed child ninja schooled in the dark arts, truly a hero for a new generation. Bring on the sequel. Or possibly a spin off....