Kids Movie...Not

A much anticipated comic book movie opens this weekend, looks great from the poster and the trailers. Is this going to be a dad and son movie sharing experience? No, I don't think so...

Kick-Ass
Opens today April 16, 2010 | Runtime:1 hr. 57 min.
R- strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use -- some involving children

KICK-ASS tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name -- Kick-Ass -- assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There’s only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers. His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes -- including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloë Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) -- and forges a friendship with another fledgling superhero, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). But thanks to the scheming of a local mob boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong), that new alliance will be put to the test.
 

Cast: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Genres: Superhero Film, Action

• (from Fandango) www.fandango.com

Looks like a kids movie, the synopsis reads like a kids movie, and the main characters are kids; the problem is that this is not a kids movie. If you read the rating:

-strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use -- some involving children

The ratings system is saying "If you want to have a good time, leave your kids are home" The advertising on the other hand is saying "Look- kids on the poster, kids in the trailer, bring the family to watch this movie", and that is the issue; when it comes to the marketing department of studios, they need to maximize return, which sometimes conflicts with the film's objective. I am sure there will be families bringing their 7-8-9-10 year old children to this movie and those kids will be in for an eye-popping experience.

I am looking forward to watching kids Kick-Ass, but my kid will not be there.