daniel cohen reviews the new super-hero film starring Rainn Wilson, which is currently in limited release …
Plot: After Frank D’Arbo’s (Rainn Wilson) wife (Liv Tyler) leaves him for a drug dealer (Kevin Bacon), Frank goes into a state of depression. After claiming he gets a sign from God, he becomes a super hero known as the Crimson Bolt. He’s clumsy, but brutally beats people, and eventually gets the attention of Libby (Ellen Page), a young girl obsessed with comics and superheroes.
Super is that rare movie which straddles the line between dark comedy and drama, but is able to keep it satisfying and not lose sight of where it wants to go. The man who’s able to hold that balance is none other than Rainn Wilson, who so far gives my favorite performance of the year.
The beginning of the film does a great job of getting you to sympathize with Frank. There’s an early scene where he’s crying which is both funny and sad where Wilson has a great balance of delivery. It’s important we like him from the start because once he becomes the Crimson Bolt he does some not so nice things, but you still want to root and care for him. Oh yeah, and he’s also really funny. His inspiration for becoming the Crimson Bolt in getting messages from God is a little clunky, but it works okay. Wilson sells it. But his moment of true greatness comes towards the end where he delivers a stunning monologue that really knocks you on your ass. This is a protagonist you aren’t quite sure how to feel about, but that’s what the director (James Gunn) clearly intended for. Wilson is not the only great performance. The film is stockpiled with them.
This is probably the best Liv Tyler’s ever been. And Kevin Bacon is stellar as the drug dealer Jacques. He’s such an asshole, but so hysterical at the same time. Much like you have mixed feelings about Frank, you definitely don’t like Jacques, but he’s so funny, you enjoy watching him. Andre Royo plays Frank’s co-worker/friend who is also really funny, and is very important as he keeps the movie from getting too heavy. The director also has a hilarious cameo as a demon in the Christian Superhero TV show that inspires Frank. And then, of course, there’s Ellen Page.
It’s not possible to dislike Page. She could probably star in Gigli 2, and I would still like her. It’s no different here. She plays a very likable comic book store clerk. Unfortunately, the biggest weakness of the film is with her character. In the first half, she’s a quirky, charismatic, well-adjusted girl. Her shift into crazy land is way too sudden and not a smooth transition. She does some brutal things and almost takes a nonchalant attitude towards it. It was a bit unsettling. The casting of Page for the role was brilliant because if it was another actress, I’m not sure you could go along with what she does. You certainly don’t accept the bad things she does, but because it’s Page, it doesn’t linger the rest of the movie. You can move on.
The ending to this could not have been more perfect. The last act is very intense and emotional, but still trickles in the right amount of humor and bad ass elements. And it’s fairly realistic in that there are bad things that just happen out of no where which really take you off guard.
Super is a fantastically directed film with phenomenal performances. This gets into heavy drama territory, but it’s still pretty fricking funny. It’s also got a great score and soundtrack, and some cool animation. I can’t stress enough Rainn Wilson’s awesome acting in this. If you want a darker version of Kick-Ass, this is the movie for you.
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Great)
