Action & Adventure Pick: Super (2010)
Director James Gunn has recently been making headlines with a little science fiction film you may have heard of called Guardians of the Galaxy, thanks to typical Marvel hype – but this isn’t Gunn’s first superhero rodeo. Before he landed the coveted gig at Marvel, he was behind a movie called Super, which is one of the weirdest superhero films I’ve ever seen…in a good way.
While this may be a turn off for some, “weird” is actually Gunn’s trademark style. Super may be a bit unorthodox, but it’s an incredibly enjoyable film that’s feels a bit like Kick-Ass meets Mystery Men.
Super is not your typical “hero without powers movie,” and is more about a man’s personal struggles and identity crisis, which just so happens to involve dressing up in costume. Rainn Wilson stars as Frank Darbo, a short order cook who has lead a disappointing existence, but hangs onto two important memories: the day her married his wife Sarah (Liv Tyler), and an incident where he helped a police officer catch a purse snatcher.
When Sarah leaves him for a strip club owner named Jacques (Kevin Bacon), Frank sinks into depression. Before long, he has a vision in which he is touched by the hand of God, and is visited by the Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion), a superhero on a public access television show.
Frank believes that he’s been chosen by God to become a superhero, and enlists a foul-mouthed comic book store employee named Libby (Ellen Page) to help him. He then becomes the Crimson Bolt, wields a pipe wrench, and takes to the streets to brutally beat various rule breakers (whose crimes range from child molestation to cutting in line at the movies). Before long Frank becomes famous for his actions, and inspires Libby to become his sidekick, Boltie.
See, I told you it was weird! It’s also extremely funny and emotionally gripping, with a few jaw-dropping dark moments thrown in for good measure. While I wouldn’t say it’s a great film, it’s certainly worth watching, especially with its relatively short 96 minute run-time.
So, if the summer’s tentpole superhero franchises have begun to wear you down, check out Super, and use Crimson Bolt’s catch phrase as often as humanly possible: “Shut up, crime!”