Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2011

A self-pitying loser (Rainn Wilson) is inspired by a Christian TV show to become the pipe-wrench-wielding Crimson Bolt. He goes after the drug dealer Kevin Bacon (good), who has stolen his wife (Liv Tyler). Ellen Page adds spunk as his bloodthirsty sidekick, Boltie. Alas, like the somewhat better Kick-Ass, the “cartoon” violence (ka-pow!) in this mean-spirited movie is real. Watching people get bashed in the face with a pipe wrench is just not funny, and the Christian Bolt ultimately becomes abhorrent. Yes, I get it that it’s messing with audience expectations, but it’s doing so without much of a point.