Frank Darbo (Rainn Wilson) is down on his luck after his wife, Sarah (Liv Tyler) has left him for a drug dealer named Jacques (Kevin Bacon). Frank is now left with one positive memory, the time when he pointed the police in the direction of a criminal on the run. He has given up hope that anything else in his life has meaning or any value. Now, through what Frank believes to be divine intervention--and a little help from comic book peddler Libby (Ellen Page)--he pulls himself up from the dark, dank mess that is his mind, and he attempts to fight crime, right the wrongs of the world around him and win back his wife. With all of this, the Crimson Bolt is born, and crime has a new nemesis.
Writer and director James Gunn finds himself at the helm of a superhero film just as superhero films were becoming big. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Knight were each released less than two years before and did exceptionally well at the box office, putting some pressure on Gunn and his ability to produce another hit in that genre. Yet, Gunn decided to take a shot anyway, and attempt to manipulate the expectations of that genre enough to separate it from the pack and find a different kind of success. Comedy and raunchy undertones were drawn to the forefront of Gunn’s superhero satire as it progressed. His ability to create stupid humor to guide a story is unparalleled and that was apparent from the opening moments of the film.
What was beyond his control was the actors’ abilities to deliver these asinine lines in a manner that connected with audiences. Frank and Libby could not have been better casted, as Wilson and Page deliver comedy on such simple and demented levels. Their chemistry as superhero and sidekick rivaled that of Adam West and Burt Ward, making them the perfect choices for the crime-fighting duo. As usual, Gunn’s story was vibrant and compelling (as is true of his other well-known films).
With comedy leading the way, Gunn’s story revolves heavily around love and the bonds people create with one another, allowing audiences to identify with what was taking place and the characters within the story. Even with the almost laughable budget of $2.5 million, Gunn (and crew) was able to create a product that, while only really being directed at a very particular audience, was fun, entertaining and accessible.
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