Action Film Match-up: "Kick-Ass" VS. "The Losers"

In the course of one week in April, two films have opened in movie theaters that have wowed the audiences and made them laugh at the same time. Those two films are “Kick-ass”, which opened on April 16^th, and “The Losers”, released April 23^rd. Both are action-packed comedies based on comic books of the same names that have received positives from critics and viewers alike. However, it is difficult to decide which is the better and more entertaining film. In viewing both films, which is the best?

“Kick-ass” tells the story of an ordinary teenager, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), who sets out to become a real-life superhero calling himself Kick-Ass. When Dave gets caught up in a bigger fight, he meets Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage), a former cop who, in his quest to bring down the evil drug lord Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong), has trained his eleven-year-old daughter to be the ruthless vigilante Hit-Girl (Chloë Moretz).

In “The Losers”, five members of an elite United States Special Forces team lead by Col. Frank Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) are sent into the Bolivian jungle. The team finds themselves the target of a betrayal instigated from the inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max (Jason Patric). Believed to be dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha (Zoe Saldana), a beautiful operative with her own agenda.

From an action film standpoint, both movies present their own share of great action. “Kick-ass” competes well with its impressive martial arts and almost impossible firefights. Seeing a 13 year old girl killing criminals with a doubled-bladed staff, shooting hit men through the air, and then using profane language is almost too amazing. Also, seeing Nicholas Cage shoot that girl to show her what it feels like to be shot with a bullet-proof vest on is just priceless. However, while “Kick-ass” provides great action, “The Losers” take the edge for action in this competition. If Rambo had four clones and they worked as a team, then that would best describe the action in this film. A five-man SpecOps team with each member bringing their own expertise to the table is a recipe for non-stop action throughout the film. The most notable action scene is when the team takes down a full base of 50 guards armed with AK-47’s in less than eight minutes using just the five of them in a Humvee. It is doubtful that the superheroes of “Kick-ass” could pack that big of a punch.

As for the comedic aspect of these films, “The Losers” has its moments of humor that are skillfully produced by very good acting from the entire cast. One of the funniest moments is Jensen (Chris Evans), dressed as a courier, walking into an elevator listening to “Don’t Stop Believin’” on his IPod and singing along loudly to it. However, “Kick-ass” is definitely the more humorous film of the two. The movie is of the same kind of humor that was first created in memorable comedies such as “Superbad” and “Zombieland”. The main character, a socially awkward comic nerd who has no fighting skills at all, trying to beat up three thugs in order to save a man they were attacking was so hilarious that one has to see it to believe it. Also, hearing 13 year old Hit Girl swear so much it makes your ears fall off, and ask her dad for butterfly knives for her birthday, is enough to keep you laughing throughout the whole movie, even during the serious parts.

Overall, both films were very entertaining in the main aspects of action and comedy. “The Losers” definitely played out the non-stop action even though “Kick-ass” held its own with style and a considerably larger amount of bloodiness, while “Kick-ass” took the cake with its hilarity despite the humorous acting of “The Losers.” Everything resulted evenly, which makes it hard to decide which was the better action comedy film. It is highly recommended that everyone go out and see both of these awesome films. Ultimately, the viewers will have to decide for themselves which one they like better.