Final KICK-ASS poster doesn’t

I feel for the marketing department behind Marvel’s upcoming comic book superhero piss-take Kick-Ass (on our screens April 8th 2010). It would seem they have a fine line to walk, a very sketchy grey area that hasn’t been clearly defined how best to sell their (supposed) little gem of a film.

On one hand, the red-band trailer and character posters showed great promise for a violent, action-packed bloody affair full of wire tricks and swear words. On the other, the green-band trailer was safe as safe could be, playing more like a cliché Disney arc and leaving a bitter-sweet taste in ones mouth… as does this recently released final poster you can see below.

The poster seems far too busy, forced and hard on the eyes (or is that just me showing my age again…?). It features every lead character superimposed over an impossible-to-read main title using a photoshopped liquid splatter effect– which I guess might allude to the fact there’s some bloody action to be had… Otherwise the effect doesn’t make much sense at all.

Granted, they don’t have star-power to push the film (selling it as a Nic Cage film would be a lie as his Big Daddy character is supporting), so under the circumstances I see their need to throw the marketing blanket as far as it can reach and cover as much from each demographic as possible (comic fans, action fans, comedy fans, 13 year olds, 28 year olds… girls).

As someone who knows little about the plot and never read the comic book, watching the promotional material roll out for Kick-Ass been such a see-saw affair. I’ve shifted from desperately wanting to see it, to mediocre interest, and all the way back round again. I guess it’s working. At least we’re talking about it, right?

Shut up. Kick-Ass.

Kick-Ass concerns a teenage boy, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), who decides to become a real-life superhero after being inspired by the heroes of comic books. He soon encounters a mysterious vigilante called Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), and his daughter Hit-Girl (Chloë Moretz), who are working to bring down the local drug baron Frank D’Amico.

• Aaron Johnson as Dave Lizewski / Kick-Ass
• Nicolas Cage as Damon Macready / Big Daddy
• Chloe Moretz as Mindy Macready / Hit Girl
• Mark Strong as Frank D’Amico
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Red Mist
• Lyndsy Fonseca as Katie Deauxma
• Yancy Butler as Angie D’Amico

KICK-ASS is in cinemas 8 April 2010
(I’m aware the poster says April 16, but lucky Aussies get it eight days earlier.)