Kick Ass (2010)

Simply put, Kick-Ass is a lot of fun, but only for mature viewers and older teens. The skilled, confident Hit Girl is a disturbing character, both admirable and pathetic. She's strong but often cruel and ruthless, and the movie raises several questions about her age. Is she cool, and a great role model, or has she been cheated out of a normal childhood and forced to grow up too quickly?

Regardless, for older viewers the extreme violence, intense language, and overt sex actually help underline the kind of reckless, dangerous attitude of the movie. Director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) balances several characters with brisk economy and punchy scenes, not unlike comic book frames. The movie only falters during its final third, when Vaughn lets the humor drop in order to wrap up the explosive story.