Ever wonder why no one ever truly tries to be a real superhero? You’re not alone–we’ve all wondered this at some point in our lives.  The movie “Kick-Ass” shows the potential consequences of regular people trying to be superheroes.

Based on the comic series by Mark Millar, “Kick-Ass” tells the story of Dave Lizewski (played by Aaron Johnson), a wimpy high school comic book nerd. Dave decides to become a superhero and purchases a bright green and yellow wetsuit on the Internet for his new crime-fighting costume.

Naming himself Kick-Ass, he embarks on a vigilante crusade against crime, completely disregarding the fact that he has no powers or special training of any kind. After a few failed attempts at battling crime, one of his fights with local thugs ends up on YouTube, sparking a superhero phenomenon among the general public and inspiring others to don masks and fight crime.

Written by Matthew Vaughn (from Layer Cake and Stardust) and Jane Goldman, and directed by Vaughn, “Kick-Ass” brings a fresh take to the comic book movie genre. While the concept may seem similar to last year’s “Watchmen,”, this film’s approach to the subject matter is unique. Speaking more to the comic book fan audience, “Kick-Ass” shows the trials and tribulations of an average geek’s desire to become something greater.

Thanks to the sharp and witty dialog, and wonderful performances by the actors, the film does a masterful job of showing exactly why becoming a real superhero is more trouble than it’s worth.

The highlight of this film is easily Chloe Moretz’s performance as the character Hit-Girl. An incredibly foul-mouthed eleven-year-old girl, Hit-Girl slaughters henchmen with relative ease. While many may be put off by seeing such a young girl act in such a violent fashion, she is definitely the most fun character to watch. Every scene she appears in has the audience laughing and cheering for her.

While this movie may come off as a comedy or a spoof of the genre, “Kick-Ass” has much more depth to it than to fall into typical stereotypes. While it is not a serious commentary on comic book fandom, it does have a lot to say about how comic books have affected our lives as well as what the consequences are of a person attempting to be a superhero.

The film does a fantastic job of juggling comedic and dramatic moments. One minute you’ll be laughing at Kick-Ass’ crime fighting attempts, the next one you’ll be on the edge of your seat watching an absolutely gut-wrenching and heartbreaking moment.

It’s surprising  how the film manages to get away with all the crude humor and intense action. Even more surprising is how well it all still ties together. Every scene feels just right–never too long or too short. It manages to accomplish all this while also pulling off some of the slickest action sequences out of any movie released this year.

“Kick-Ass” was a very pleasant surprise. Comic book movies are becoming more common, so it’s great to see one that is different from the rest. From start to finish, the movie keeps a solid pace and perfectly balances the kind of comedy, action, and drama we expect from movies of this genre. “Kick-Ass” is a must see for comic book fans and a worthwhile watch for everyone else. It’s a fun ride and you’ll want to see it again immediately afterward.