Hit-Girl Rocks My World

by Debbie Stoller

 

Ok, I’ll admit this blog post is about three months overdue. Although, I’d argue that it’s really never too late to draw attention to a good movie or an awesome young female character.  

So I’m just going to proceed.   

Last night I ended up watching the movie Kick-Ass on bootleg. I had dismissed the film when it came out back in April due to its seemingly lame premise (high school comic-book nerd wants to be a superhero and get laid, blah, blah, blah). 

It turned out to be far more enjoyable than I would have ever expected–not a cinematic gem, but far from a total crap-fest.   

There was comedy. There was action. There was a shocking amount of violence. But more importantly, there was an ass-kicking little 11 year-old girl who completely outshone her spandex-wearing vigilante male counterparts.   

Her real name is Chloe Moretz and she’s actually an adorable 13 year-old actress who has appeared in quite a few TV shows and films, including the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror and 500 Days of Summer. She also has several movies lined up. 

Hit-Girl reminded me a lot of Natalie Portman’s character in The Professional, just far more bad ass and far less sexual.  

Words can’t even express how awesome it was to watch a young female repeatedly outsmart and outlast burly thugs twice her age without using her sexuality.  

Instead, she uses impressive knife slinging and sweet kung-fu moves.  

That being said, it’s no surprise that Hit-Girl wasn’t openly embraced by some critics. In fact, Roger Ebert found it “morally reprehensible” that the film would show a child cursing like a sailor and brutally murdering countless evil-doers with no remorse. 

While I suppose this is a valid argument, ultimately, we’re talking about an R-rated movie adapted from a comic series set in the present day. Perhaps critics unfamiliar with the series had just assumed Hit-Girl would be more Powder Puff.  

If anything, I was more disturbed by Nick Cage’s character (aka. “Big Daddy” aka. Hit Girl’s father) who goes from looking like a child molester by day to a wannabe Batman by night. A pretty creepy father-figure if ya ask me. 

But anyway, despite mixed reviews, Kick-Ass pulled $20 million at the box office and Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall is already in the works. 

I’m really hoping the sequel is followed by a Hit-Girl spin-off. Hell, can someone please give that girl her own comic series?  It only seems right considering how many times she saves Kick-Ass’ ass. 

For those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet, it comes out on DVD on Aug. 3rd. I recommend adding it to your Netflix queue now. 

Or you can just go the illegal route and watch it tonight. 

 

[Image: RottenTomatoes.com]

 

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