MBunge If you're a comic book geek (like I am), you might find Sidekick interesting but utterly unsurprising. If you're not a comic geek, you might find the story unusual but not that interesting.Norman (Perry Mucci) is a comic book geek. He doesn't live in his mother's basement, but he's not that far up the ladder from there. He lives in a crappy apartment, his bed surrounded by boxes of comics. He works as the IT at an investment firm, where he has a secret crush on the moderately hot receptionist named Andrea (Mackenzie Lush, which is one of the great names). He hangs around at his comic shop and talks to the owner, Chuck (Daniel Baldwin), about what sort of super-powers they'd like to have. He's a pretty small guy in a pretty small world, until he discovers that one of the top traders at the investment firm, Victor (David Ingram), actually has super-powers. Reacting to that as only a grown man who surrounds his bed with boxes of comics would, Norman decides to train Victor in how to use his powers, even though Victor is not at all keen on the idea. With the encouragement of Chuck, who thinks Norman is writing his own comic book, Norman casts himself as Victor's mentor. He has Victor practice with his powers until he really can do some amazing things, dreaming all the while of Victor donning a costume and inviting Norman to help him battle the forces of evil. But while Victor's got the super thing down, there's nothing at all heroic about him. Something Norman is eventually forced to realize and tries to prevent Victor from rewriting his secret origin and becoming a super-villain.If super-hero comics are wish fulfillment power fantasies for young boys, Sidekick is a wish fulfillment power fantasy for grown men who read super-hero comics meant for young boys. Norman is meant to be what every comic geek would be if he discovered that someone in his office could move things with his mind. A nd while the story takes a while to get going, it is sort of fun to watch Norman cast himself as a real life Professor X. But once you get past that initial appeal, there's nothing else here for the comic geek. To a super-hero fan, this story is terminally predictable. There's no moment when it doesn't do exactly what a comic geek would expect, even when twisting the plot in a different direction would make more sense. The story also unfolds as though it were written in 1975 or something. To any comic fan who's read Watchmen or Astro City or any of the umpteen other postmodern/deconstructionist works, Sidekick's take on real super-heroes will seem awfully shallow and simplistic.If you're not a huge comic geek, though, and haven't already read "realistic" super-hero stories a thousand times already, this might seem like something a little new and quirky. But if you don't have a feel-good identification with Norman, you'll probably notice that the movie doesn't have a lot of humor or action or tension or drama or anything else. Like an inside joke you had to have been there to appreciate, non-comic geeks will be left wondering why the movie seems to be missing so much.That "missing" feeling encapsulates what's wrong with the character of Norman. Other than being a comic geek with an unrequited crush, we never learn anything else about him. The story never bothers to tell or show us why Norman is the way he is or why we should care. The movie does far more to give depth to Victor, but treats him as a minor, supporting character for the most part. Heck, we're even given greater insight into Andrea as a woman trapped in a sexist corporate world than we are into Norman.This film doesn't insult or belittle or mock comic geeks. It doesn't even have much of the self-loathing that many comic geeks possess. But it's trying to tell a story that's already been told very well many times before and isn't bringing anything new or different to the formula. I f you're a comic geek who hasn't read Watchmen or the novel Superfolks, Sidekick might be a good warm up for those works. Otherwise, you'll likely find it slightly engaging but extremely remedial.

bmahar1 Sidekick is what Indy film-making is all about. It offers solid storytelling that's perfectly consistent with the Super Hero genre thanks to a smart script written by producer Michael Sparaga. The story is actually believable and the film keeps a perfect pace that seems to get better and better. You do not want this movie to end. The special effects are not overdone, but rather, well done and offer just the right amount of support. Strong performances and great chemistry between David Ingram and Perry Mucci really carry the picture. Subtle wit, sarcasm and the occasional "ode to the genre" one-liners by Ingram provide some nice comic moments. Sidekick is a lot of fun.I loved this movie!

minoui Finally a comic book genre movie that has a worthwhile storyline. This film does not rely on explosions to keep the audience interested- instead it reverts to the past, when movies were made to tell a story. And what a story. This was one I actually wanted to hear and was not disappointed in. I wonder why I don't support home-grown talent more often as opposed to wasting a minimum of eight dollars to see a Hollywood big budget movie that I am always disappointed in? Go see this movie, it reminds me of Canada's relationship with the US. Although Canada is seen as a measly "sidekick" they actually have all of the... well, I won't explain further for fear of spoiling the movie but if you keep this in mind while viewing you will easily grasp my train of thought.

roland-104 Norman (Perry Mucci), a nerdy computer troubleshooter at an investment firm in Toronto, fills his personal time and imagination with comic superheroes; his best buddy runs a comic book shop where he often hangs out. One day in the coffee room at work, Norman sees Victor (David Ingram), one of the slicker salesmen, grab a toppling coffee cup in midair with such lightening speed that Norman guesses he must possess some sort of telekinetic powers. Turns out he guessed right.Norman offers to train Victor to focus the use of these powers more intentionally, and, after initially spurning the offer, Victor acquiesces. Norman envisions training Victor to become a superhero, fighting crime with his paranormal skills, while Norman sees himself as a sidekick, his Robin to Victor's Batman. Trouble is, Victor does not share this vision: he has no scruples whatsoever and laughs off the idea of becoming a crimefighter in favor of accumulating corporate control and wealth through his powers, even if this requires violence.Norman has inadvertently created a monster and now must attempt to pull the plug on him. The screenplay is cleverly written. Ingram is perfect as the narcissistic bad guy. Mucci is burdened by playing a character too naive to be believed, not in the big city of Toronto. My rating: 6.5/10 (B). (Film seen on 10/01/05 at the Idaho International Film Festival). If you'd like to read more of my reviews, send me a message for directions to my websites.