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.

DEFENDOR is one of those anti-superhero comedies about normal, everyday figures who don ridiculous costumes and turn vigilante to take crime off the streets. KICK-ASS is the best known of these, and an action film in its own right, but the film that DEFENDOR is most similar to is SUPER. Having seen both, I much preferred SUPER, which was funnier and more satirical. DEFENDOR has a sadness about it in the depiction of a mentally ill Woody Harrelson who is convinced that his destiny is to battle crime. The reliable Elias Koteas gives the best performance while others like Sandra Oh are a distraction, but in the end DEFENDOR neither thrills nor amuses, just proving to be a time-waster and nothing more.

Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson) is delusional and under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Park (Sandra Oh). At night, he fights crime as superhero Defendor. He has no real powers other than his home made weapons and his unbounded delusions. Angel (Kat Dennings) is a street kid that he rescues from crooked cop Chuck Dooney (Elias Koteas). He's after crime boss Captain Industry.

It's a pretty good performance from Woody. Writer/director Peter Stebbings needs better cinematic style. It also needs more comedy. Kat Dennings should be perfect but she's not being maximized. Overall, I really like the concept but it needs better writing and better directions. The movie has a certain innocence that doesn't quite mesh with the darker material. There is a need to get a more consistent tone.