Film Review: Super

The problem with a film as unique as Kick Ass is that every film even slightly similar that follows it, whether it was shot first or not will be compared to it. When Kick Ass was released and became a big success other films were rush released, most notably Defendor with Woody Harrelson, and the box art for the DVD was very Kick Ass inspired.

Another will which is bound to be called 'This Years Kick Ass' by a slew of lazy reviewers who can't be bothered to sell the film on it's own merits, is Super. The only comparison between the films is that the films main character decides to become a super hero even though they possess no powers.

Super is the story of Frank D'Arbo (Rainn Wilson) who decides to become The Crimson Bolt after his wife Sarah (Liv Tyler) leaves him for drug pusher and all around nasty piece of work Jacques (Kevin Bacon). Not possessing any powers, he decides to just use a wrench instead, and along the way picks up a peppy sidekick
Libby, super hero name Boltie (Ellen Page) and together they fight crime (when it comes along) before a final confrontation with Jacques and his henchmen.

For the most part Super is a slightly surreal quirky comedy with some moments of black humour. At times its quite realistic, but other times (such as a dream sequence when Frank is visited by TV evangelist The Holy Avenger, played brilliantly by Nathan Fillion, where Frank 'bestowed powers' by some kind of tentacled monster) it's quite strange.

But it all balances quite well against everything else. Even the over the top violence (and things to get quite brutal in places) seems appropriate for the (mostly) realistic plot. At one point a cinema queue jumper (and his  girlfriend) are taken out by the wrench wielding Crimson Bolt. Again, quite realistic but some twisted humour to be had in the situation.

But it's the last act (not even that really, more the last 20 minutes) that things get really dark. It just stops being a comedy, and ends up being quite moving by the end. It's a real curve ball to throw at something that had mostly been a fun watch. But it really works. Although there was one element to it I had to question, but there we have quite a large spoiler, so allow me just to say - I wish they hadn't.

Overall Super is a great film, with a fantastic performance from Rainn Wilson. Not just relying on his usual 'weirdo outsider' shtick as seen in the US Office and Six Feet Under, he does add a layer of empathy for the character, even when he is hammering the crap out of someone with a wrench!

****
A brilliant film, although quite disturbing in places. And ultimately nothing like Kick Ass. Catch it if you can.