Newsy: Does 'Kick-Ass' Cross the Line?

A new superhero movie is breaking all the rules, and critics are lining up to pan it. But it may "Kick-Ass" at the box office just the same.

"And the audience that will never go watch this movie are the ones that are complaining about it, so, no offense to them, you don't have to go buy a ticket, don't go see it." (CNN)

That's Matthew Vaughn, director of the soon-to-be-released movie "Kick-Ass." It's a movie that has broken all the rules accordiang to media critics and is redefining edgy.

We're taking a look at the movie with Fox News 411, New York Magazine, the L-A Times, CNN and NPR.

First to Fox News 411 describing the movie's heroine: "And the role of hit girl is a 12-year-old assassin out for revenge. She shoots, slaughters and strangles people while donning a superhero costume. She also curses using the f-bomb and c-word. Has Hollywood gone too far this time with a child actor?"

New York Magazine's David Edelstein says "Kick Ass" appeals to our sleazy side. Starting with the movie's heroine, the 11-year-old pixie who calls herself—"Hit Girl"—cursing and killing with joyful aplomb: "There’s a disconnect when you watch: Should a girl this age—the actress herself, say—be allowed even to see this thing? Is what’s onscreen a form of child abuse? Do we splutter in outrage or relax and dig the Grand Guignol spectacle?"

The L.A. Times Steven Zeitchik says, the more movie critics and family advocates spout off against "Kick-Ass"—the bigger it could grow: "If Lionsgate plays its cards right, protests will come flying in over Hit Girl's language and action. ...if the Parents Television Council didn't like an implied threesome on "Gossip Girl," we're not quite sure how they'll feel about...many of the seven words you can't say on television...in a movie about and aimed at teenagers."

The actors in the movie tell CNN—don't take it so seriously: "It's not real life, so if they can separate the two between work and not, then I don't see what the problem is. This is fantasy. This is a movie. You go there to escape so don't take it so seriously (laughs): "They're all silly. It's just a movie. They got nothing to worry about."

NPR's Kenneth Turan says, love or hate hyperaction violence, this movie is the pentultimate: "It may or may not be the end of civilization as we know it, but "Kick-Ass" certainly is Exhibit A of the here and now."

"Kick-Ass" opens in select theatres this weekend. To see a trailer for the movie be sure to visit our transcript section.

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