‘Kick-Ass’ lives up to its name

Words by Alex Perry

Since the release and success of films like “Sin City” and “300,” Hollywood has shown audiences that not all comic books are written for kids. This point is driven even further into the ground with the release of director Matthew Vaughn’s “Kick-Ass.” This is not “Spider-Man” or “Iron Man.” While some might find it incredibly offensive and walk out of the theater, those who stick with it until the end will find the best film of 2010 so far, and a wonderful start to the summer movie season.

Why has nobody ever tried to be a real-life superhero? This is the main premise of “Kick-Ass,” and the question that high school student Dave Lizewski discusses with his friends near the beginning of the movie. Dave is an average teenager who doesn’t really fit into one social group and has a huge crush on a girl who doesn’t know he exists. The only interesting thing about Dave is that he is a huge comic book fan. Like you’d expect, Dave is bullied often, and after being forced to give up his money and phone one day on the way home from the comic shop, he decides to make a change.

Dave buys a wetsuit and takes to the streets fighting crime, and becomes a celebrity overnight due to a YouTube video. He becomes known as Kick-Ass, and through a series of misunderstandings makes some interesting friends and enemies, such as the film’s villain, drug kingpin Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong).

What really brings the movie together are the characters. Aaron Johnson is good as Dave, with a whiny voice and attitude similar to that of any Michael Cera character. He is the least interesting character, though, due to the fantastic performances given by fellow superheroes Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage) and his 11-year-old daughter Hit-Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz). These two have been in the business much longer than Dave, and as such, they are both experienced killers. Cage gives his finest performance since 1997’s “Face/Off,” doing an imitation of Adam West’s Batman for most of the movie.

 The absolute best performance in the movie, though, is Chloe Grace Moretz as Hit-Girl. She is the most foul-mouthed of them all, and piles up more bodies than anyone else in the movie, which is made even more hilarious when you consider that she is 11 years old. Every time she comes on screen, you know you’re in for a treat of violence and cursing.

Mark Strong is pretty good as Frank D’Amico, delivering all his lines is a thick New York accent, which is impressive considering Strong is British. Christopher Mintz-Plasse is also good as Chris, D’Amico’s son. He is his father’s evil sidekick, and he acts every bit as nerdy as he did as McLovin in “Superbad.” He’s funny, but nothing you won’t expect.

While the first half of “Kick-Ass” plays out like a decent high-school comedy, the second half is almost entirely dominated by action. Matthew Vaughn handles these scenes well, with some over-the-top fight choreography and incredible violence. The climactic battle at the end of the movie is especially wonderful, with plenty of bullets flying and criminals dying.

Overall, “Kick-Ass” is refreshing. It is a superhero movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and has some of the most memorable characters to appear in a movie in years. Run, don’t walk, to the theater and see it when you have the chance. It certainly lives up to its name.

Five Guys gives staffer unforgettable experience

Word by Shelby Reynolds

“One in the door!” The cashier girl shouts as I walk in the Five Guys entrance on a Thursday night.

Then soon after, “four in the door!”

I couldn’t figure out why the workers needed to warn everybody of my presence, but I know that they kept coming. The line was long, the small restaurant filled to the brim with burger-hungry people impatiently waiting for their number to be called.

I waited in line a good five minutes until I reached the cashier who had earlier hollered of my arrival to the entire restaurant. The menu board listed only some following choices for burgers: hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger, or bacon cheeseburger. Looking at the menu, there were a few also options for hot dogs, but I was pretty sure I wanted a good, juicy hamburger. Toppings were mostly free, including jalapeños, grilled onions, BBQ sauce, and other yummy garnishes.

I ordered a regular-sized side of fries, which was way too much for one person, and that according to the menu, are cooked (more like deep-fat fried) in 100% peanut oil and made from Idaho-grown potatoes. While waiting for my number to be called, which surprisingly was only 16, I began comparing Five Guys to the oh-so popular Freddy’s. The waiting room was packed, very similar to Freddy’s, and even the red and white decorated walls and counters were almost identical. Five Guys adorned their walls with posters listing off their many awards and notable accomplishments. I was starting to get the idea that they have a little too much pride in their food.

I wasn’t expecting much of a burger after matching up the two diners. But boy was I wrong. The hamburger was juicy and seemed to almost melt in my mouth. The grilled onions added fantastic flavor and those talked-about fries that are given so much acclaim met my high expectations.

I felt crowded and a little claustrophobic while several people hurried past my table. There were few places to sit down since Five Guys had its tables arranged in a little corner. There were some tables outside, in a place facing directly towards one of the busiest streets on the west side of Wichita. But the wind was blowing too hard outside to be able to enjoy my delicious hamburger and fries.

Overall, the burgers were worth all my wait and claustrophobia. I suggest getting a burger to go next time to avoid the crowd. But when compared to the always-celebrated Freddy’s, the versatility and better-tasting hamburgers of Five Guys trumps the steak burger restaurant.