Super (2010)

After Defendor and Kick-Ass, this represents the third film (out of five) that I've seen to try its hand at the burgeoning subgenre of movies about ordinary people who try to become costumed vigilantes. And, while this isn't as dramatic as Defendor, or as well directed and executed as Kick-Ass, it scores major points for being the most subversive, ballsy, and risk taking of the three.

It's also not as good as the others overall, but is nevertheless an entertaining albeit polarizing film that really highlights the consequences of trying to fight crime without much training, and is probably the most realistic in this regard.

Frank is a sad sack loser who just coasts through his dull life as a short order cook. After his recoverign addict wife is willingly seduced by a slimy yet charming drug dealer named Jacques, he is inspired to take up the mantle of a costumed vigilante after supposedly having a divine vision inspired by a cheesy religious themed superhero show (a parody of the program Bibleman).

After a bit of comic book research, Frank dons a homemade costume, calls himself the Crimson Bolt, and, armed with a pipe wrench, sets out to fight crime and save his wife. Eventually he gets a sidekick in the form of comic book store employee Libby (under the name of Boltie), but her approach to thigns shows that she might be more unhinged than he thought, and that they're way in over their heads.

The film does deal with themes like the influence of religion on action, the aestheticization of violence, and the journey of self discovery, and while these are addresses and dealt with, the film seems to focus more on the pure visceral nature of things, and is more about the mayhem, dark, twisted humor, and shock moments (some of which are really effective, while others are just plain bizarre).

And despite this film being for a REALLY limited audience, it is enjoyable in a sick kind of way. The humor is really dark and perverse, and the film definitely earns points of being ballsy and risk taking without care. It helps that the performances are good too, and that the performers are trying instead of just phoning it in. Wilson is really good as Frank, and he makes for a believable protagonist. Liv Tyler is good as his vulnerable and insecure wife Sara, and Kevin Bacon is fine as the smarmy Jacques. Like with Kick-Ass, it's the female avenger who really steals the show here. I haven't seen Ellen Page this unsettling and psychotic since Hard Candy. The fact that this film is funny makes her work even more effective subversive and nutty. She seriously is marvelous as the perverse and nutty Libby/Boltie, and there's some really uncomfortable moments with her that just sing.

All in all, the film isn't probably as great as I'm making it out to be, mostly because I tend to be very forgiving and lenient with ratings and reviews, but I can't help it. This film does a lot right, and it's certainly not boring. Yeah, the morals are questionable, and the film primarily relies on the mayhem to carry things, but how often do you see a sexually provocative sidekick of a guy who beats people with a pipe wrench? The fact that the film is polarizing alone makes it worthy of viewing and discussing, so take that as some sort of recommendation.