Super, was one of 3 films came out around the same time that dealt with people who had no superpowers whatsoever deciding to become "heroes", the other two films where Defendor (getting there first in 2009), Kick-Ass - Kick-Ass being the best known of the bunch (and the only based on a comic) is the one the other two compare it too, people can potentially be disappointed though because neither have the big-ness about them as both are small budget in comparison. Super, though for my money is the best of the three and like Chloé Moretz in the Kick-Ass movies as an ace in it's hole of it's own and that's the one and only Ms. Ellen Page.
Make no mistake the film around her is great (as are other performances) but this movie belongs to Page,
The film has a fantastic animated opening featuring all the main characters and tells the story of Frank (Rainn Wilson), whose narration tells you he only as two good memories in his life - marrying his wife Sarah (Liv Tyler) and helping a police officer catch a robber because of directing him where to go. He draws them in crayon and hangs them on his wall. Sarah, a recovering addict leaves Frank for Jacques (Kevin Bacon) who gets her hooked on the drugs again. Frank has a vision which he is touched by the hand of a good, and meets the Holy Avenger (a great cameo from Nathan Fillion) - who is a superhero from a public access how and is told he as chosen for a special purpose - and that is to become a superhero, he goes to a comic book store for inspiration and meets Libby (Page) who though he says he's creating a new comic book character sort of sees through it, he then creates a superhero costume and takes up the name of The Crimson Bolt.
His weapon of choice is mostly a pipe wrench and he begins to fight crime to various rule breakers from the major (child molesters) to the by comparison minor (somebody who cuts in line) and becomes a media sensation.
The film is very enjoyable from start to finish, Libby ends up becoming involved when wounded he goes to hers for help and she ends up becoming his sidekick (Boltie) and the cast is great - Wilson plays Frank so well that we don't completely think he's a loony when he has the visions and ends up being a superhero and Tyler, though not given much to do. Bacon the villain of the piece plays it excellently charismatic who sees The Crimson Bolt/Frank more of a nuisance at times then his arch-nemesis but like I said the film belongs to Page who is such a brilliant ball of energy that the film shines most brightly when she's on screen - crazy but still as the Page cuteness about her that I fancied her despite how dangerous she would clearly be if she was real.
I'd say the film is the darkest of the three real life superhero movies from the same time, it seems the smallest production (though the budget between this and Defendor I imagine are the closest), but after the inevitable shoot out ending it finishes on a nice note...
Overall I absolutely loved this, it might have a bit a sour taste for some people to truly love it like I do but anybody willing to give it a chance will be pleasantly surprised.
Make no mistake the film around her is great (as are other performances) but this movie belongs to Page,
The film has a fantastic animated opening featuring all the main characters and tells the story of Frank (Rainn Wilson), whose narration tells you he only as two good memories in his life - marrying his wife Sarah (Liv Tyler) and helping a police officer catch a robber because of directing him where to go. He draws them in crayon and hangs them on his wall. Sarah, a recovering addict leaves Frank for Jacques (Kevin Bacon) who gets her hooked on the drugs again. Frank has a vision which he is touched by the hand of a good, and meets the Holy Avenger (a great cameo from Nathan Fillion) - who is a superhero from a public access how and is told he as chosen for a special purpose - and that is to become a superhero, he goes to a comic book store for inspiration and meets Libby (Page) who though he says he's creating a new comic book character sort of sees through it, he then creates a superhero costume and takes up the name of The Crimson Bolt.
His weapon of choice is mostly a pipe wrench and he begins to fight crime to various rule breakers from the major (child molesters) to the by comparison minor (somebody who cuts in line) and becomes a media sensation.
The film is very enjoyable from start to finish, Libby ends up becoming involved when wounded he goes to hers for help and she ends up becoming his sidekick (Boltie) and the cast is great - Wilson plays Frank so well that we don't completely think he's a loony when he has the visions and ends up being a superhero and Tyler, though not given much to do. Bacon the villain of the piece plays it excellently charismatic who sees The Crimson Bolt/Frank more of a nuisance at times then his arch-nemesis but like I said the film belongs to Page who is such a brilliant ball of energy that the film shines most brightly when she's on screen - crazy but still as the Page cuteness about her that I fancied her despite how dangerous she would clearly be if she was real.
I'd say the film is the darkest of the three real life superhero movies from the same time, it seems the smallest production (though the budget between this and Defendor I imagine are the closest), but after the inevitable shoot out ending it finishes on a nice note...
Overall I absolutely loved this, it might have a bit a sour taste for some people to truly love it like I do but anybody willing to give it a chance will be pleasantly surprised.
