Defendor

Defendor is a super hero movie, but unlike what you’ve seen from DC and Marvel comics. You see, this hero, the aforementioned Defendor, is a bit slow. ‘Touched’, if you will. He’s not so incapable that he cannot make decisions or feed himself, nothing like that, it’s just that he is slower than most folk. Still, as the movie plays out, you realize there is much more going on under the surface of his character. He has a clear vision of what is right and wrong, even if it came from comic books.

As the story progresses, we learn about Defendor’s past and get a better understanding of why he is the way he is, the things that built him up to become Defendor, the reasons why he sees himself as a Super Hero and his clear vision of right and wrong.

This movie is labeled as a comedy, but I didn’t get that vibe at all. It did have some comedic overtones to it, and some funny moments such as some of the ‘weapons’ that Defendor uses to fight crime, but not so much to actually label it a comedy. This is much more a character piece about a man who is on a personal mission to defeat a certain villain he has searched for his whole life, Captain Industry, and the people he meets along the way.

Gotta light?

For how forthright and honest Defendor is, the villians he opposes are equally dastardly. They have no remorse, and no hesitation in trying to put down our hero. It was nice to see such a cut and dry opposition. It is very black and white, good guy and bad guys. There are no gray areas here at all, which is how Defendor sees the world.

I think Woody played it very well, even if he did that terrible raspy voice akin to Christian Bale’s Batman. However, he was emulating the great comic book characters that he aspired to be like, but I’m not sure his character actually watched the Nolan/Bale Batman movies. Doesn’t matter, really, I’m just saying. In the end, he’s portraying his Defendor super hero as he envisions the heroes from his comic books would speak, one liners and all.

Woody has come leaps and bounds from his days of Cheers. I always suspected he would go on to do some great roles, and he has, this one included, where he puts in a touching performance.

Elias Koteas has always been a great actor, but he seems to not really know what his place is in this movie, just kind of drifting through each scene. He puts in a decent enough performance, but it just doesn’t feel like he’s all there.

Defendor prepares for some vigilantism

Kat Dennings, who I’ve only seen in a handful of things, was very good in her part as the teenager who befriends Defendor. It’s actually kind of sad to me, really, the way she uses Defendor for her own means, but she’s no angel, so it makes sense that if she can use the good nature and naivity of Defendor, which she does, that she would. Of course, that doesn’t mean she ISN’T a hooker/drug addict with a heart of gold, it just takes her some time to get to the heart of gold part.

I can understand why this movie wasn’t widely released to theaters. People would see it as either a satire or just plain dumb, but they would be wrong on both counts. This is an emotional film with a dark edge about one man  seeking to accomplish his life long purpose. About doing what is right. I recommend picking this one up for a rent and going along for the ride. Defendor would like that.

Author: Devon

A dude who likes movies. Well, most of them.

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