DEFENDOR (Canada 2009) ***
Directed by Peter Stebbings

Everybody wants to be a superhero.  DEFENDOR is the story of a simple man, Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson), a construction company worker who dresses up at night to become DEFENDOR, a vigilante who has his way (marbles, wasps and a huge truncheon) with the bad guys. 

But when he beats up an undercover cop Chuck (Eli Koteas), the law steps in.  Poppington has to convince the court-appointed psychiatrist (Sandra Oh) that he is sane to stay out of prison.  Though DEFENDOR is a first film, Stebbings has created a remarkably dark (even the lighting) and humorous tale of a man fighting the system at all odds.  He is aided by hooker with a heart of gold, Kat (Kat Dennings). 

DEFENDOR is more drama than action flick.  DEFENDOR’s message is not thrown straight at the audience’s face which is a very good thing.  The biggest surprise of this movie is Sandra Oh’s moving performance.  On only wishes there is much more of her.  Stebbings’ film actually contains quite a number of superheroes besides the Defendor. 

DEFENDOR is one quirky film that marks an impressive debut from director Stebbings.  A hit at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival and voted as Canada’s Top 10 by Cinematheque Onatrio.