Boy Wonder (*** out of ****)

Here is the serious and near realistic version of Kick-ass & Super. It centers on Caleb (Sean Steinmeyer) who lost his mother when he was ten. She was killed in a car jacking. His father before that use to beat both her and Caleb. He's sober now that Caleb is about 18. Caleb works hard in school and works out heavily afterwards. Caleb goes looking for criminals that have attacked children like when he was younger.  Teresa (Zulay Henao) is a cop that he befriends but she in turn is hunting this vigilante. The film contains rich characters, complexing emotions, development and a interesting device. Often Caleb imagines characters are rash and harsh but they are really calm. This adds some weight to whether or not Caleb is righteous or misguided. In the end it does what it set out to do quite well.

*** out of ****