20 August 2011 | timesplitterz

8 | Funny, disturbing and downright fun

First let me start off by saying that at first glance Super looks very similar to Kick Ass and I've read many reviews on here with people calling this film a Kick Ass rip off IT IS NOT!



In fact Super is nothing like Kick Ass the only common thing they share is one ordinary person becoming a super hero you could say that kick Ass rips off such works as Batman or Green Lantern. An normal person suddenly becoming extraordinary isn't a new concept that Kick Ass invented and Super does not rip off that film in anyway, but I'm going to stop talking about this and get to the film itself.



The trailer for this film did not show what this film was really about, this is not a light hearted comedy about real life superheroes instead it's much more adult. This film is about a troubled man that has never really known true happiness in his life and suffers an ultimate blow when he looses his wife. This pushes him over the edge and eventually through a series of bizarre signs and a very disturbing vision decides to become a superhero.



This is about a man who could well be close to becoming a serial killer but his victims are people who commit crimes. He doesn't intended to kill them but his attacks are so brutal that they could lead to death and he seems to have no intent in puling his punches per say. Like wise his sidekick played by the talented Ellen Page is also a border line psychopath who is overall feisty and eager. Her character is just plane insane and without Frank would have become a crazed killer in a costume. I enjoyed her character very much I thought she was very funny and I loved her crazed psycho personality.



I admire how this film is shot, there's a lot of hand-held or steady cam shots and it gives the whole film a very documentary feel and it adds to the sense of realism that this film is about. This documentary realism feel is something that I personally think Kick Ass would have been better with, this feel works so well when action sequences take place or violent scenes occur because it makes them so much more tense and brutal.



The comedy in this is well placed, dark and disturbing at times and I found myself in some scenes laughing at how disturbing these scene were not one to show the kids.



I have nothing against any of the acting in this film I thought everyone was at their best suited their character, the only character I had a problem with was Liv Tyler's character I couldn't understand what her character really wanted during the course of this film one moment she wants to give up drugs for good the next she's living with a crime lord who deals in drugs what is going on with her?



I personally wish this film went on longer but that's just me. There were some really shocking moments in this film that really got a reaction from me and the ending at first left me feeling really sad inside but then afterwards it felt like the right one although I was disappointed with one aspect of it but I can't say without spoiling anything.



In short if you had low expectations and haven't seen this watch it and leave your expectations at the door you will not be disappointed unfortunately this isn't one of those films that I can share as some people will be put off by the odd and disturbing scenes but keeping in mind this is not a Kick Ass rip off this is a unique film all on it's own.