Defendor (2009) User Reviews

Fantastic

[paul_haakonsen · 8/10 · 5 April 2010]

Wow, this movie was awesome.

I sat down to watch this movie with no high expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised. Finally a "superhero" movie you can relate to, instead of everything being all high and mighty on morals and super powers.

"Defendor" had it all, comedy, action, drama and romance. What made this movie unique was the blend of genres which works really well. Initially I thought it was just a spoof of superhero movies, but "Defendor" is so much more than that.

The characters in the movie are real and believable. Hats off to Woody Harrelson for his marvelous performance as Arthur / Defendor. This role really showed off Woody's acting talents. I think we can all see parts of ourselves in the Defendor character, and that is what makes this movie so powerful, so gripping and so entertaining.

And also to Elias Koteas for his role as the corrupt policeman and Kat Denings as her role of a young woman in drug abuse and harsh life situation. And the supporting roles were nicely portrayed as well.

The story told in "Defendor" easily picks you up and keeps you tight. It is really good and you can place yourself in that story. It is very believable and leaves you very entertained.

I was thoroughly entertained from start till end. Lots of good action, really good and solid story, and spectacular acting. This is definitely a keeper, a movie with enough value to be watched more than once.

Clever parody juxtaposed with intriguing self-reflexive darkness - an inspired revision of the superhero myth

[pyrocitor · 8/10 · 12 September 2009]

Given the recent onslaught of superhero films hitting theatres, it would seem only natural to anticipate parodic responses to the genre, sending up its excesses and sillier elements. On the surface, it would appear that debut director Peter Stebbings' Defendor is exactly such a film, casting Woody Harrelson's oddball everyman as a surrogate crimefighter and exploiting his antics for humour in the vein of 1999's Mystery Men. And initially this is the approach the film itself appears gearing up to take, opening with a hysterical spoofing of overblown superhero film clichés, including rooftop billowing fog, high contrast city lights against nighttime darkness, and larger than life acrobatic feats ("always check the garbage days" moans a wounded Defendor after leaping off a rooftop into a dumpster recently emptied of garbage to cushion his fall). Such astute genre awareness combined with the wonderfully imaginative collection of Defendor's makeshift crimefighting weapons (including the most inspired use of marbles seen in ages) could easily have assured for an hour and a half of lighthearted, enjoyable cinematic fun.

But Stebbings' film has grander ambitions than a mere surface level parody, which subtly unfold as the film progresses. As the laughs slowly become fewer and fewer, Defendor's narrative becomes steadily more engrossing, settling on a tone pitched halfway between exhilarating crime/mystery thriller and poignant character study, as the viewer is led increasingly to question Defendor's mental stability, and even the ethics of his imbalanced war against injustice. While such transitioning between tones could prove a dangerous stumbling ground, Stebbings is careful to distinguish between his darker themes and moments of levity, utilizing dashes of all too real violence to savagely undercut the fantasy or parodic elements. For all Defendor's silliness, it certainly packs a brutal punch when necessary.

Of course, being the work of a first time director, one would expect the occasional fumble, and Stebbings' film does lose its way for a period nearing the climax, meandering somewhat and losing its rhythm. Nonetheless, an emerging subplot musing on the roots and importance of heroism (clearly borrowing amply from Christopher Nolan's recent two Batman reboots among other sources) which could have been the clumsiest addition to the movie actually emerges as surprisingly tasteful and functional, adding more nuance and complexity to the unfolding film without coming across as excessively pretentious. Completing the package is the wonderfully grandiose musical score by John Rowley, managing to perfectly encompass each tonal shift, whether gleefully riffing on superhero musical motifs or offering something more profound and honest, either way adding welcome depth and volume to a film already far from lacking in either.

The casting of Woody Harrelson as the titular hapless crimefighter also proves a stroke of genius, as Harrelson's naturally wacky yet powerful charisma exemplifies the essence of the film, beautifully blending child-like emotional simplicity, tenacious determination and enough flat out weirdness to make it all ring true, as well as an inspired ripoff of Christian Bale's now iconic Batman voice. Kat Dennings is equally delightful to watch as a young prostitute who may be either befriending or manipulating Defendor, warping her naturally quirky and spunky energy into something darker, yet just as resonant. Elias Koteas essays antagonistic clichés with the utmost grotesque skill as a crooked cop, and Michael Kelly reconciles a weakly written role with a gruff credibility as Defendor's employer and solitary friend. Finally, Sandra Oh is superb in her few scenes as Defendor's psychological examiner, infusing impressive dramatic tension with moments of deadpan humour, and bringing welcome life to the film.

It would be easy to compare Defendor as a film to its protagonist: slightly cumbersome and prone to stumbling at times, yet cleverly self-aware, comical yet with layers of unexpected darkness, and overall encompassed by such an infectious sense of classic, cheesy charm that it is near impossible not to love in the end. Whether taken as a superhero parody, straight out superhero film or character study (or ultimately all three), Defendor proves a highly enjoyable success, and one easily worth a watch.

-7.5/10

Surprise! This is a great movie!

[dennispublic · 8/10 · 21 April 2010]

Wow, that was surprising.

I stumbled across this film by accident, I saw that Woody was in it so decided to give it a try. I wasn't expecting much because I had never heard of it. But I was very pleasantly surprised.

This movie is great! "Defendor" is very funny, yet has a real story, and will get you emotionally involved when your not laughing your butt off. You pretty much can't go wrong here. Most importantly it was all thrown together beautifully, hats off to the writers and director. Every actor did a great job as well, but Woody stole the show, he deserves an award for this - he nailed the roll and then some. 110%. Well done.

This movie is underrated!

Great film!

[sergelamarche · 7/10 · 17 May 2018]

The story really works and the actors are doing it justice. Low budget canadian film that goes a long way. Amusing drama like in real life. Murderous criminals like in real life. Some minor flaws due to budget.

A Don Quixote for our times

[Muttines · 7/10 · 22 March 2010]

This was a rather enjoyable and strangely touching action caper, with moments of genuine depth and truth.

Woody Harrelson proves once again that he's an incredibly versatile and emotionally astute actor, with an arresting performance that carries the story along with remarkable zeal and fun. And while the plot and direction skirt close to sentimentalism towards the end, Harrelson executes the last few scenes in a manner so as not to spoil the quirky edge of the film.

Another angle that I found particularly enjoyable were the deferred references to Don Quixote - if you've read Cervantes's hilarious Rennaissance series you'll no doubt notice uncanny similarities that suggest homage: In lieu of the outlandish chivalric tales that madden Don Quixote and compel him to forge his own suit of armour and 'sally forth' into the wilds of quiet old La Mancha, we have 'Defendor', who similarly loses what few wits he has to begin with by obsessively reading comic books and deciding to become a superhero in an anonymous post-industrial slum. Sancho Panza is replaced by a saner but similarly pliant crack-addict, Kat, and Rosindante is supplanted by his 'defendog' mobile.

There are other similarities the movie has with D. Quixote, but to mention those would give the game away. It will suffice to say, however, that the film is quite highly recommended by this viewer, if not just for the joy of seeing Don Quixote once again take to the streets in all his glory.

Defendor YES

[duff-579-22069 · 10/10 · 25 March 2010]

The only reason I can think of why a person would give this movie a bad review is that it wasn't the movie they expected. I liked it from the first minute to the last, and I didn't know what to expect. I can't think of a single flaw in this very low budget film, so in comparison to some of the disappointing big popular movies out there that have expensive visible flaws, I give Defendor a big YES. Woody did a very good job on this film. I can see by his performance that he enjoyed making it and I enjoyed watching him.

I was disappointed in Woody Harrelson's previous acting in the "2012" monstrous mess where he painfully overacted and seemed to be telling the audience that it was all a bad joke. Defendor made up for that.

Woody proved that you don't have to have expensive green-screen special effects to make a good movie. It can be done with acting talent. Thank you Woody!

Relax your mind, see the movie, let yourself enjoy it.

Defendor: Not what you're expecting

[stefan-humphrey · 7/10 · 14 April 2010]

While at first I thought it was a comedy, I was soon proved wrong. I like Woody Harrelson for his comedic value, this pushed his acting skills in a newer direction. While still maintaining a comedic overtone it settled into a serious note that is very seldom seen in most newer movies. It's not big on special effects or huge explosions, but the movie its self makes up for all that for being big on heart and able to touch feelings that haven't been touched in a while.All in all I'd say Woody Harrleson doesn't deserve an Oscar for his performance(while it was quite memorable), the movie does deserve an honorable mention at as many award shows as possible!

Brilliant

[nightcity · 9/10 · 22 March 2010]

One of the best movies I have seen this decade, funny, touching and clever. It would have totally passed me by if someone hadn't recommended it, which is a shame as it's an excellent film.

Acting, music score, writing all come together really well. Thank you Woody for another great movie.

I would really recommend this film to anyone even if the "superhero genre" is not your thing, since that is only tertiary to the theme anyway.

I look forward to seeing more from Peter Stebbings.

I can only hope that "Kick Ass" is half as good as Defendor.

A different kind of superhero.

[lewiskendell · 6/10 · 14 April 2010]

Defendor is the story of a simple, deluded, child-like man, who thinks he's a super-hero. In all likelihood, he should have died a swift and brutal death no later than ten minutes in, but it seems that God watches out for the simple-minded, even in movies. Somehow, Defendor even ends up bumbling his way into doing some good.

Woody Harrelson portrayed Arthur in a way that completely avoided mocking him. Imagine Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. Arthur has definite reasons for his quest and his actions, and as those reasons are revealed during the movie, you become more and more attached to his character. Kat Dennings plays a young prostitute who befriends Arthur and is instrumental in helping him to his final destiny, and Sandra Oh stars as a psychiatrist who learns about Arthur along with the audience.  No one is responsible for the acting burden that Harrelson has, but their performances are still solid. 

I liked this movie a good bit. It was funny in some parts, and sad in others. We really don't get to spend enough time with Arthur/Defendor and his world, but what's here is pretty satisfying.

This is a fairly average addition to the genre but still worth a viewing

[kevin_robbins · 5/10 · 23 March 2022]

Defendor (2009) is a movie I recently rewatched for the first time in a long time on Amazon Prime. The storyline for this picture focuses on a vigilante on the search for his arch nemesis, Captain Industry. One day he meets a prostitute and looks to change her life for the better and indirectly she begins helping him too; meanwhile, his new prospective may bring him closer to Captain Industry than he's even been before...

This movie is directed by Peter Stebbings (Empire of Dirt) and stars Woody Harrelson (White Men Can't Jump), Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), Sandra Oh (Under the Tuscan Sun), Michael Kelly (Dawn of the Dead) and Lisa Ray (Water).

The storyline for this is fairly straightforward and relies on some unique characters and approaches to circumstances. Much of the plot is unrealistic, as are the circumstances (at least how the police handle it).

The cast is really good and the dialogue is fairly random and funny. Harrelson was perfectly cast for this lead role and nailed his performance. The action sequences are pretty good, especially the shootouts, and the garbage scene was great.

Overall this is a fairly average addition to the genre but still worth a viewing. I would score this a 5/10 and recommend seeing it once.

The mentally ill are the sane

[joris-nightwalker · 7/10 · 22 December 2014]

A superhero movie is best when it subverts the genre itself, like in Chronicle or Birdman. Defendor does just that. What happens when someone with a vulnerable mental state claims to be a superhero, fighting Captain Industry? They are looked down upon. They are seen as harmless and pitiful. Until they start to take action. Then they need to be contained and get psychological help. This movie tries to shine a light - through the psychologist - on that vulnerability and shows us there's something noble, even something pure in people who (try to) fight injustice. Woody Harrelson is in top form playing the protagonist Arthur aka. Defendor. His quest to defeat Captain Industry is a sobering and fruitless one, but the public begins to care for him. Maybe just because of Athur's general naivety. A graffiti artist paints a wall with his portrait, calling out to "fight back". That's what this movie was about for me. Fight back. Fight the self-righteous world who divide 'normal' people from those whore aren't according to some arbitrary measurement. Defendor is a warm eulogy for those defying normality and a subtle criticism on what is perceived as sane.

Imitator

[Cineanalyst · 4/10 · 18 July 2020]

Another, forgettable movie about a regular, albeit perhaps mentally impaired, guy playing superhero despite a distinct lack of supernatural powers or Bruce Wayne's wealth, "Defendor" follows films such as "Hero at Large" (1980) and "Special" (2006) and anticipates the likes of "Griff the Invisible," "Kick-Ass" and "Super" (all 2010). This one is definitively on the schmaltzy side of, say, the ultra-violence of the "Kiss-Ass" series or the dark tone of "Super," but a lot of the same notes are played. The intellectually-disabled protagonist in this one, portrayed by Woody Harrelson, has a familiar fascination with comic books and dresses up at night like his heroes to attack mobsters for the standard reasons--avenging a dead parent and rescuing the hooker with a heart of gold (Kat Dennings, who went on to make similar wisecracks in the first two "Thor" installments). Added to the comic books of art-within-art, there's also a minor character who paints graffiti, including a mural to Defendor. Additionally, much of the narrative is told through flashbacks as reported by the wannabe-supe to a therapist. There's hardly anything new or particularly interesting here, but, at least, it's sometimes amusing.

Defendo or Defendon't

[bowmanblue · 7/10 · 26 May 2014]

I'd never heard about this film until I'd watched Seth Rogen's 'Observe and Report' - a film which has the line, "I thought this was going to be funny, but actually it's kinda sad." That summed up Observe and Report and it also sums up Defendor.

If you're looking at pictures from the film and you think Woody Harrelson looks kind of funny in his bowler hat and painted-on eye mask get-up, you could be mistaken for believing that this is the 'comedy' it's partly billed as. It's not comedy. It's also not fantasy, sci-fi or action.

I would say Defendor is actually a drama. There are a few laughs (anyone who fights baddies armed only with wasps and lime juice is always going to raise a chuckle), but generally it's a character-focused piece about Arthur, who is a man with severe mental disabilities. He's also sick of being laughed at, so he becomes a 'heroic' crime-fighter by night called Defendor.

I thought it was going to be funny, but it is actually quite sad. Defendor wants to do the right thing and is a genuinely nice guy. That's what adds the pathos when he's repeatedly beaten up or exploited by a working girl who he befriends.

I thought this was a great movie - hardly feel-good, but deeper with more subtle, black humour; just don't expect a rip-roaring, action-packed, laugh-a-minute joyride.

http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Different Vigilante film

[nicholls905-280-546911 · 7/10 · 29 April 2020]

The film was surprisingly good and Harrelson throws himself into an interesting role. I had expected this to be another Super and Kick-ass clone buy it managed to have its own identity. The films budget impacts the storyline and you could sense this wanted to be a bigger film. The film is at its best when it uses the cast to full effect. The gritty style and the fun take on a well worn vigilante style hero was the right move.

C'mon, make like a rocket. Take off.

[crenshaw_123 · 9/10 · 20 March 2010]

Probably the best movie so far, this year. And it would have dodged my radar completely if my friend wouldn't have recommended it to me.

So here's me, recommending it to you.

It's a dark comedy, which will make you laugh, no doubt. But it's comedy saturated with a sad story about this great guy that escapes his ordinary life by turning into this Defendor character. Someone who's not afraid. Allegedly a thousand times better than the guy without the mask. And together they'll make you love this movie.

It actually reminded me a lot of "Reign Over Me" with Adam Sandler. Which is also very good.

If you're in the mood for a drama that'll captivate you, but won't rip your heart out, like Million Dollar Baby might have or most certainly will. This is what you're looking for.

Thank you, Woody!

Sloppy superhero satire

[Samiam3 · 5/10 · 1 January 2011]

It may be a superhero satire, but I think the mindset behind Defendor is closer to Forrest Gump. This movie wants to celebrate being dumb, but it does so in a very stale, dry fashion (unlike Gump). Defendor has no heart or soul. I never got the sense that the makers put any effort into this. Instead they use a cute idea and hope that it's enough to sustain a viewer for a hundred minutes.

the Defendor is a Don Quihote type. He is a mentally troubled individual who dislikes himself, and the society he grew up in; a society of crime to which he lost his mother; a society that makes fun of him. As a means to make himself feel more accomplished he dressed up as a super hero and drives around the streets at night fighting drug criminals, using a bat, a handful of marbles and if necessary, a squirt of lime juice.

I can pin point a few good one liners early on, but for the most part, I find the Defendor to be a dud. Whenever it tries to be funny, it feels random, and contrived instead. Take for instance the use of marbles as a weapon? I would've liked to see something a little more clever considering that the intention is superhero satire. Maybe if he threw little plastic supermen instead.

Another problem I have with the movie, is the plastic style of acting. Nobody seems remotely involved in the project. Woody Harrellson, is missing the fiery edge that made him so funny in Zombieland, here he just feels childish. In fairness, the script doesn't offer much character for anyone to work with, and certainly not a lot of dialogue either. The climax feels rushed and cheap but by the time you get there, you may not mind. Defendor is pretty boring, and unacceptably lazy. No thought process has gone into this movie, leaving the Defendor, unfunny, uncool, and unfair to the viewers.

A more realistic superhero, quite fun to watch.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 3 February 2021]

For once a superhero movie seems plausible even though Defendor isn't the kind of superhero we're used to like in the Marvel and DC Comics franchises. This time the superhero is a normal human being, he just doesn't have all his marbles (or in this case he has them as a weapon). Woody Harrelson did a great job playing this character. He was fun to watch. The rest of the cast was good as well. Kat Dennings (fromTwo Broke Girls) still has a bit of an annoying voice but other than that she's a decent actress, and she's for sure candy for the eye. Defendor has a plot easy to follow , contains some funny moments, and keeps the audience entertained for the entire movie. Good enough for me.

I think I missed it...

[flankerltd · 4/10 · 5 September 2010]

I think I may have missed the greatness of this movie. A lot of other people seem to think it was funny and touching and this other stuff.

I thought the acting was average at best. Woody does play a "special" kind of super hero, but aiming to copy Christian Bale's over-exaggerated deep creepy voice? Really? Although, it did make me wanna dig up my sling-shot and chase people around.

The comedy part of this movie escaped me as well. Maybe it's because the face of comedy has changed over the last 20 years, but myself, roommate and girlfriend failed to even giggle. Are we laughing at Woody's lack of normalcy or unique perspective? Is if funny to be a hooker? Is it funny to repeat a tag line all movie during serious scenes? The mass release of self proclaimed super hero movies is not impressing me. This movie fell way short.

Understated gem

[grantss · 7/10 · 27 March 2021]

An understated gem. Simple yet sweet, fun and poignant. In some ways a parody of super-hero movies, but also a very original underdog-vs-evil movie. Some great themes, simply put. The movie delights in its lack of special effects and lo-fi style, yet being, superficially, a super-hero movie too.

Woody Harrelson is superb in the lead role. Hard to imagine him as the underdog and laughable anti-hero, but he pulls it off to perfection. He is ably supported by Kat Dennings, Michael Kelly (of Generation Kill fame) and Elias Koteas.

deserves to be seen

[tamrawillett · 9/10 · 24 February 2016]

Touching, funny, charming, heart-breaking, optimistic--and so little known. This film is on my special list--the one with the films and books that if folks like 'em, I know I'll like the folks. (Since you asked, another such movie is Australia's "The Castle." And, since you asked, one of the books is "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell) A wonderful example of a well-acted film.

Haven't written a review for a long time, and when I tried to post it learned the minimum length is 10 lines of text. More words do not indicate a better composition--I should know, I taught English Comp at university.

Okay--long enough now.

Defend-itly

[galahad58-1 · 7/10 · 29 May 2010]

Defendor is a well written movie about a simple, humble, kind human being who just wants to be a superhero to help others. Woody Harrelson is excellent in the role of Arthur Poppington. Harrelson brings the old Woody (Cheers) heart and likability to the role that makes you root for Arthur throughout the entire movie. The script is well written and the film is well paced. The story of how Arthur's mother died and he just wants to protect other mothers from the same fate is a terrific idea that plays well into the framework of the film. Defendor was made before Kick A55 and it is at least 100 times better than Kick A55 ever could be. Defendor is well worth the rental and recommended.

Defendor (2009)

[SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain · 8/10 · 13 December 2011]

Mixing a current love for super-hero movies, with a drama about mental health is a hard sell. Probably why this film has been skirting under the radar for sometime. People always talk about Batman being mentally ill. Well, Harrelson's character truly is. He is misguided into a world of crime fighting, searching for his mother's killer. He gets way in over his head, and his antics have serious consequences. He jeopardizes police investigations, and really gets hurt. At the same time, his actions are celebrated by the media and the public. The film looks at these points from a distance. Are Harrelson's methods justified? Is he just a gimmick? Is there a better way to fight crime? Whilst, all the time, reminding us that Harrelson is not well. He is dangerous, even if his heart is in the right place. Perhaps a bit too much darkness to truly take off, it has some great performances, and the action scenes always let you feel that something bad could happen to the hero. Not something you can say about many superhero films.

effectively blends black comedy, character-driven drama and action movie

[manicman84 · 7/10 · 25 April 2010]

Woody Harrelson stars as Defendor in a new indie film dealing with the subject of "everyman" superheroism. Peter Stebbing's film is a refreshment of the genre rather than a reinvention as the same theme of self-appointed superheroes has been tackled earlier in such films as John Ritter's Hero At Large or last year's Watchmen. Stebbings seems to be aware of this fact having no problems with a somewhat awkward, but totally relatable tone. He effectively blends black comedy, character-driven drama and action movie. His script is a shrewdly multi-layered one: part a compassionate character study, part "one man can make a difference" story. The acting is yet another high point. Harrelson plays the character as proud, hurt, confused, and furious, yet still remains perfectly authentic. Kat Dennings as a wounded runaway that supports our hero is also very believable. In the end though, Defendor seems far less than the sum of its parts largely due to the film's small scale not letting it fly high as well as less-than-spectacular ending. Despite this, Defendor is still one to see. 7.5/10 (B)

Liked it

[Quanfa · 25 June 2022]

The actors are good, but sometimes I wondered if Woody wasn't sure just how slow his character was. Also, I felt like there was an element of being afraid for Arthur that wasn't explored enough. "Training bullets" was probably the most obvious logic mistake, but beyond that the suspension of disbelieve wasn't too bad overall.

What drives the movie is you want to know if Arthur can pull off his mission. You want him to succeed and you feel bad for his separation from his mother as a child. Kat Dennings is always "too cool for school" but she pulls off the role here pretty well. I believed her sympathy for Arthur by the end.

Decent movie, not a classic, but worth watching.

Woody is awesome... film isn't!

[namashi_1 · 3/10 · 2 July 2010]

Peter Stebbings's 'Defendor' is a poor show. Mainly because, the truly terrific idea is led-away from a shoddy screenplay. How interesting to think a concept like 'Defendor', and how disappointing it is to see a golden opportunity gone wrong.

The story tells of a regular man who adopts the persona of a superhero named Defendor on a quest to find his arch enemy, Captain Industry! The film beings with a bang, but loses pace 30 minutes into the film. The climax is okay, it doesn't leave the impact one would expect. Peter Stebbings's direction is fair, but his writing is a letdown.

Woody saves the film with his brilliant performance. The American Cult Star delivers one of the strongest performances of his career, and of, recent times, of course. Kat Dennings also delivers a good performance. Sandra Oh is her usual self.

At the end of the review: 'Defendor' is a disappointment. Thumbs Down!