The Tick
2016
Original language: English
- comedy
- sci-fi & fantasy
- action & adventure
The story
In a world where superheroes have been real for decades, an accountant with zero powers comes to realize his city is owned by a super villain. As he struggles to uncover this conspiracy, he falls in league with a strange blue superhero.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated primary colors and flat, cartoonish sets give this a deliberately comic-book look, with crisp daylight in the city streets and lots of wide, staged two-shots that let the absurd costumes and gags play out in full. The sound leans on brassy, bouncy orchestral cues and quick sound-effect punchlines, and the whole thing feels like a Saturday-morning cartoon that has been given live actors and a sharper wit. Its vibe is playful, goofy and upbeat, with a streak of earnest heart underneath the slapstick. The tone stays light and affectionate toward its superhero-genre references, with a rhythm of quick cuts and running jokes that suits a lazy afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or something easy to half-watch while folding laundry. Violence is cartoonish and mostly bloodless, with bonks, falls and exaggerated fights rather than gore; sexual content is minimal and there is little real menace or dread. It suits viewers who want a silly, warm, low-stakes superhero comedy, and fans of offbeat superhero parody who don't need grit or realism.
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