I know it’s all supposed to be tongue in cheek and lots of fun, but frankly this turned my stomach.
Kick-Ass (2010)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:199
Fresh:154
Rotten:45
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: Not for the faint of heart, Kick-Ass takes the comic adaptation genre to new levels of visual style, bloody violence, and gleeful profanity.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use - some involving children.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:Apr 16, 2010 Wide
Box Office: $19,828,687
Synopsis: Mark Millar's violent comic tale of wannabe superheroes is adapted by writer-director Matthew Vaughn (LAYER CAKE) with this Marv Films production. Aaron Johnson stars as a teen who steps out of his... Mark Millar's violent comic tale of wannabe superheroes is adapted by writer-director Matthew Vaughn (LAYER CAKE) with this Marv Films production. Aaron Johnson stars as a teen who steps out of his house one day with a mask and a painted baseball bat and starts to fight crime even though he has no superpowers. Lyndsy Fonseca co-stars as the character's object of desire, with Nicolas Cage also appearing as an ex-cop whose hatred of a drug lord forces him to train his daughter to be a lethal vigilante. [More]
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Studio: Lions Gate Films
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "SAVE" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Reviews for Kick-Ass
When filmmakers nudge a child into viewing savagery as slapstick, are we not allowing them to do what we condemn in the pornographer -- that is, to coarsen and inflame?
A tone-deaf pantsing of the superman cause, creating an incredible ruckus as it breakdances on hallowed ground, preferring noise over wit when it comes to giving funny books a comprehensive noogie.
It deliberately sells a perniciously sexualised view of children and glorifies violence, especially knife and gun crime, in a way that makes it one of the most deeply cynical, shamelessly irresponsible films ever.
Fanboy culture reaches an apogee of sloppy diminishing returns intended to clearly draw a dividing line between adult fanboy poseurs and the under-17 crowd who can only get into the R-rated picture with the accompaniment of said pandering grown-up.
What do these characters consider worthy of killing and dying for? That a protagonist lacks superpowers is no reason for him to lack motivation, conviction, or purpose.
The fact that an 11-year-old is doing the killing -- shooting and stabbing bad guys -- all of whom die very bloodily -- will be understandably concerning for many.
The promising setup and rousing climax of Matthew Vaughn's film contradict each other and we walk away partly exhilarated but more with the nagging feeling that the questions it raises were never fully explored.
For better or for worse, Kick-Ass has been constructed to shock and awe rather than to support and value deep thought.
Amounts to a bunch of clever stuff uselessly circling a void; a superhero comedy without compelling heroes, villains, or subtext.
This ribald romp, thanks to its unrelenting violence, ultimately outstays its welcome.
We never thought we'd say this about a movie, but Kick-Ass is too violent . . .
"Kick-Ass" isn't just broken by its flaws ... It's flawed to start with, a hypocritical mess whose attempts to swagger turn into clumsy stumbling and whose knowing wink blinds it to its own problems.
The film's misjudged moments and uneven tone make it incapable of sweeping the audience away with the absurd, innocent exhilaration of the 'what if' premise.
With an overload of characters and contrasts and disconnects, Kick-Ass tears itself apart. And that leaves its ultra violence untenable.
[It] thinks it's so brave and bold. But it's more like the title character, a dweeb who just thinks he's tough.
So in love with itself and its own supposed transgressions that it loses sight of the fact that it's become the very thing it's supposed to be taking down.
Latest News for Kick-Ass
April 16, 2010:
Friday Harvest: Kick-Ass clips and pics, Shrek 4 pics and more!
Happy Friday Harvest, a weekly round-up of the best pictures, posters, and videos that have become available for viewing/download on Rotten Tomatoes. Each section features the... More...
April 16, 2010:
Critics Consensus: Kick-Ass Is Certified Fresh
This week at the movies, we've got hapless heroes (em>Kick-Ass, starring Aaron Johnson and Nicolas Cage), and madcap mourners (Death at a Funeral, starring Chris Rock and Tracy... More...
April 14, 2010:
Twelve Tough Big Screen Little Girls
With all the controversy surrounding Chloë Moretz's violent, foul-mouthed turn as Hit Girl in "Kick-Ass," maybe now is a good time to look back at some of the pint-sized female... More...
April 12, 2010:
The Coolest (And Most Controversial) Superhero of the Year
The big screen will remain cluttered with superheroes in 2010 -- but none of them are likely to have the same impact as Hit Girl, the character played by Chloe Moretz in... More...
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseFresh Links
Featured
PopEater reports on Whitney's ill-fated comeback performance in the UK. Maybe a certain Asian boy should take her place...
The Ugly Betty star answers reader-submitted questions for TIME.
Techland brings us a list of 12 disaster-themed movies that they would rank above Titanic.
LIFE takes a look at how several celebs have "evolved" over the years from age and makeovers.
Moviefone brings us a saucy list of the stars most likely to go nude on the big screen.
Promos
You're on Facebook? We're on Facebook! Get all the latest from RT in your news feed!