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 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Super
- Review Date: March 30, 2011
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Uneven superhero film is wacky but violent, dark.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this inventive-but-uneven dramedy is being marketed as an edgy superhero flick, it's much darker than you might expect. In fact, it’s sometimes downright dreary. That, plus the violence -- including gouged cheeks and eyes, bludgeoned heads, a gun battle, explosions, and more -- as well as swearing ("f--k," "s--t," and more), sexual scenes (some partial nudity), and drug content (one of the main characters is shown shooting up drugs) makes this indie flick too intense for younger teens and tweens.
What's the story?
Frank (Rainn Wilson) can count on two fingers his happiest moments: the day he helped a cop capture a thief by pointing out which direction the thug went, and the day he married his lovely-but-broken wife, a former addict named Sarah (Liv Tyler). So when she leaves him for a drug dealer (a deliciously slimy Kevin Bacon), his entire world falls apart. The only way to put it together again, naturally (or should that be unnaturally?), is to don a makeshift red uniform, wield a jacked-up wrench as his weapon, and "fight crime" as the Crimson Bolt. Along the way, Frank picks up a frantic twentysomething comic book store clerk (Ellen Page) as his sidekick and makes plans to take Sarah back from the clutches of evil. But vanquishing drug dealers is one thing; winning his wife -- and his life -- back is another enterprise entirely.
Is it any good?
The first third of SUPER is promising, with enough subversion and outright wackiness to gratify viewers hoping for more than the usual superhero routine. Frank, played with surprising pathos by Wilson, is like no hero we’ve seen before, his choices both unpredictable and interesting. He’s inspired to become the Crimson Bolt by two things: a psychedelic vision involving an eel-like creature and a superhero series that appalls him with its insipid writing and bad acting. He wants to fight for good but sees nothing wrong with whacking two people who cut in line on the head until they bleed -- the same punishment he applies to drug dealers.
Then, two-thirds of the way through, the film takes a big turn, and suddenly everything and the kitchen sink is thrown into the mix. There’s addiction-speak, cartoon whimsy, buddy comedy, sad sex, brutal (very brutal) violence -- and it doesn’t all gel. Instead, it feels like the filmmakers loaded the car, gassed it up, drove full throttle, then jumped out at the last minute. The car bobs and weaves, pitches off the cliff, explodes, then suddenly softens. Say what? Exactly.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what makes someone a hero or a villain. Which category does Frank fall into? Why do you think he's compelled to fight crime -- and are his methods justifiable?
Is the violence gratuitous or necessary for the movie's tone and feel? How does it compare to other superhero movies?
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AGE
a bad uneven violent dark comedy .... its a below average movie.
In the outlandish dark comedy SUPER, James Gunn has created what is perhaps the definitive take on self-reflexive superheroes. When sad-sack loser Frank (Rainn Wilson) sees his ex-addict wife (Liv Tyler) willingly snatched by a seductive drug dealer (Kevin Bacon), he finds himself bereft and wholly unable to cope. But soon he decides to fight back under the guise of a DIY superhero called Crimson Bolt. With a hand-made suit, a wrench, and a crazed sidekick named Boltie (Ellen Page), the Crimson Bolt beats his way through the mean streets of crime in hopes of saving his wife. The rules were written a long time ago: You are not supposed to molest children, cut lines or key cars; if you do, prepare to face the wrath of the Crimson Bolt! No stranger to rebel filmmaking, James Gunn cut his teeth writing for Troma before making his directing debut with 2006's SLITHER. In a similar vein, his follow-up feature combines absurd humor with balls-out violence to create something that is both unashamed and inimitable. But this time Gunn adds a new ingredient, one that is dark, dramatic and subversive to the core.
what was that? what did i just saw? a really weird movie. yes. this movie started like a cult comedy feel but it ended up bad. everything in this movie was just so all over the place. its a off beat indie dark comedy that ends up quite silly. i think the director and the writers didn't handled it quite well. there are some scenes that will be like totally insanely crazy.
Rainn Wilson as Frank is a guy his wife leaves him, he is a bit of loser like, he gets visions, becomes a superhero with no powers but costumes and starts fighting crime by hitting criminals over their heads. he is joined by a girl Boltie played by my favorite Ellen Page she becomes his sidekick. Frankie's Wife Sarah played by Liv Tyler is with the bad guy Jacques played by Kevin Bacon who is druging her. they end up doing what they wanted but ending has a bit of twist.
Directed by James Gunn who is unknown to me. this movie could have been good but the director didn't handled it quite well, it ends up going in opposite directions. so below average direction. screenplay had flaws it wasn't tight but very loose and hollow. story was nice a Kick Ass-ish. everything else was okay.
i would say NOT RECOMMENDED, you may find it a bit well but i didn't liked it. the movie is also quite graphic with extreme violent and bloody scenes. some gross humor. it doesn't end up as dark comedy, a small wannabe superhero movie, an off beat comedy or a cult movie but it ends up as a confused all over the place weird movie. i didn't liked it.
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AGE
this movie is ...... OK, guess
What to watch out for
*
Messages:
It’s a little murky, and the violence is played for laughs, but perhaps the messages are that you can’t save someone else until you save yourself and that what you think may be the solution to a problem could actually just muddy the waters even more. Also: When life hands you lemons, go for broke and make a lemon meringue pie. Let everyone else settle for lemonade.
Role models:
Though Frank appears well intentioned (and his loyalty to Sarah is admirable), he’s not exactly a role model. Despite her failings, Sarah is someone who seeks out answers/solutions, which, apparently, is better than being complacent.
*
Violence:
A man in disguise clobbers people with a wrench; though he reserves that treatment for those who "hurt others," there’s little distinction in his definition of what that means between real crimes and, say, keying a car. Another man is bludgeoned with a decorative object. There's a major guns-ablaze showdown with explosives on the side. A man forces himself on a strung-out girl. People are shot point blank.
*
Sex:
A man and a woman have sex (no nudity, just movements), and it doesn’t seem at first like he thinks it’s a good idea. A flashback scene shows a guy in the middle of a sex act displaying his behind; a separate imagined sequence shows a man having sex with another man (no outright nudity).
*
Language:
Everything from “bi-ch,” “wh-re,” and “a--hole” to "f--k" and "c--t."
*
Consumerism:
Some product placement, including InTouch magazine; comic book-series name-dropping.
*
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
A man shoots a girl up with drugs. Friends pass a bong around. One of the supporting characters is a drug dealer.
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AGE
Awesome movie
Not what you think its going to be...
this is not a full out comedy... it is dark and has a little of everything in it.
There is nonstop swearing from f**k, sh**, b**ch, c**t, etc. The violence is extreme, but not to extreme. There is a "rape scene" and some sex talk.
THIS IS A VERY VERY HARD R!!!!
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AGE
great movie but gory
great movie but gory and uneven. This movie was funny and original, but it had too much swearing and sexual references. But I still recommend it to older teens and adults.
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AGE
....................................
This deserves an award for stupidest comedy of the year.not dissapointing but stupidddddddd i watched it on dvd and wasted 2 hours of precious time arrrghhhhh.......you wouldnt want to see someone hitting people with sock wrenches for cutting in line at the movies or seeing aliens cutting open a mans head taking out his brain...would you??its gratuitous butn so cheesy kick ass is real superhero moviee
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| Studio: | IFC Entertainment |
| Director: | James Gunn |
| Cast: | Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Rainn Wilson |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 1, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | August 9, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong bloody violence, pervasive language, sexual content and drug use |
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