Super

A geek decides to become a masked vigilante in this tone-deaf hybrid—part insipid comedy, part ultra-violent action-movie send-up—from writer-director James Gunn. Rainn Wilson stars as Frank, a physically flaccid but morally stalwart cook at a local greasy spoon. After his wife Sarah (Liv Tyler)—a recovering addict—abandons him for sleazy gangster Jacques (Kevin Bacon), despondent Frank is inspired by cable-TV Christian superhero “The Holy Avenger” to don a homemade costume and fight crime as the Crimson Bolt. Wielding a wrench, Frank batters pedophiles, drug pushers, and even jerks who have the temerity to sneak ahead of him in a line. Before long he's joined by Libby (Ellen Page), a comic-shop clerk who insists on becoming his sidekick Boltie, taking to the part with psychotic enthusiasm (as well as lust for her oddly fastidious “mentor”). Super is a truly weird amalgam (obviously inspired by the superior Kick-Ass), starting out as an unfunny shaggy-dog story about an obsessive boob before taking a darker turn when Frank's attacks on “evildoers” become stomach-churningly nasty (the violence ratchets up considerably when Boltie comes on the scene). Aiming for dark satire but floundering in tonal schizophrenia, this is not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director James Gunn and star Rainn Wilson, a behind-the-scenes featurette (19 min.), a “making-of” segment on the main title sequence (5 min.), a “How to Fight Crime” featurette from SXSW (4 min.), a brief deleted scene, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (F. Swietek)