Kickin’ It Old School: How Matthew Vaughn’s '“Kick-Ass” Turned Hollywood on its Head

“Sickening Violence – Just The Way You Like It!”

So screams the cover of “Kick-Ass” Issue #2 by Mark Millar and Joe Romita, Jr. — and for ample reason! But just because fanboys are hardcore-psyched for youth vigilantes hell-bent on crime fighting vengeance in comic book form, does this necessarily make general audiences ready for two-hours of surrealistic, ultra-violent, gloriously irresponsible chaos? And much of it from the deranged antics of a profane 11-year-old-brawler named Hit-Girl? 

At its core, “Kick-Ass” is not only a tale of bullying and adolescent fears within a world of instant internet celebrity, it's also a mad, mad anecdote about provocation and ethics in a world where civilians of all ages take a heroic crack at the bad guys.

To say “Kick-Ass” is one bizarre and chaotic exploit is pure understatement. Lionsgate did itself right for attaching themselves with filmmaker Matthew Vaughn’s dark dream. But it wasn’t easy. Deemed too manic, too raunchy and too violent, no other studio was willing to touch this one.

After losing out on the opportunity to adapt the comic book adaptation for “Tonight, He Comes” — which later became the disappointing Will Smith flick “Hancock” — Vaughn turned his sights on Millar’s ultra-violent comic book. And, with no studio support, financed the $45 million production himself through his Marv Entertainment.

Then came 11 minutes that changed everything…

I was there when Vaughn screened footage of “Kick-Ass” at Comic-Con in July 2008 — the walls of Hall H rumbled and San Diego was shaken to its core that day. Reaction was ravenously enthusiastic and Lionsgate stepped up for this super-twisted and darkly funny comic book riff.

“Kick-Ass” proved a perplexing challenge to market to mainstream American audiences. Enduring a stream of theatrical trailers and tv spots that make this film look like a modern day PG-esque “Justice League” cartoon, the elements were there to make parents believe the film was everything it wasn't — kid-friendly. Despite my open-mindedness on the subject, I still don’t think anyone under the age of 17 should be allowed anywhere near it.

”Kick-Ass” decimates typical genre conventions, paying tribute to not only the prolific history of comic books, but also action films similar to Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo's equally ballistic bloodbaths of the 1980s and 90s. 

”Kick-Ass” is audacious, gratuitous, often uncomfortable and ridiculous; an elaborate and rhythmic take on the alliance of morality and poetic violence. It's a disturbing film, but one I was ecstatic to see Vaughn bring to spectacularly manic fruition.