Sidekick (film)

Infobox_Film
name = Sidekick

imdb_id = 0410603
writer = Michael Sparaga
starring = David Ingram
Perry Mucci
Mackenzie Lush
director = Blake Van de Graaf
producer = Michael Sparaga
Tom Mudd
released = September 26, 2005 (Canada)
runtime = 87 min.
country = Canada
language = English

"Sidekick" is a 2005 Canadian independent film in the comic-book/fantasy genre. Tech support nerd and comic-book fan Norman Neale discovers that suave co-worker Victor Ventura has telekinetic powers. Neale trains Ventura with the intention of creating a super-hero, but Ventura has other uses for his powers in mind.

Character histories

Norman Neale/Victory Man: Norman lives a dull life in a small apartment. He works as a computer technician in a large corporation to pay the bills and on the side he works at his favourite comic book store in exchange for free comic books. His office doubles as a storage room and he prefers the lights off. He also refuses to let Chuck pay him in cash. When he discovers that Victor has superpowers, his first reaction is that Victor could be a superhero. However, Norman soon discovers that Victor just isn't cut out from it and that it's up to him to save the day. Norman seems attracted to Andrea, but is too shy to talk to her.

Victor Ventura: Victor works for Richmond Financial, the same corporation as Norman, handling the company's accounts along with Carson. He is a favourite of the boss and has his eyes on an executive position. Victor has had telekinetic powers since he was twelve, but they are limited to a few inch range. Victor starts his training with sincere purposes, but deep down inside he is just a money-hungry businessman who, in the end, turns evil, using his powers to steal money.

Andrea Hicks: A secretary for Richmond Financial, she is very attracted to Victor, though he does not notice her. She blames her dead-end position on her gender -- a claim that is probably true, based on the character of her boss. She is willing to manipulate those around her to get what she wants, but in the end she too turns out to have a hero side, returning to help Norman defeat Victor even after she realizes that Victor is a killer.

Chuck: Chuck runs 'the little comic book store by the theater'. He has a wife and a son. His business has nearly tripled since he let Norman post his store on the internet, but he cannot convince Norman to take his share in the profits. He offers sage advice without realizing it and believes himself to be an expert on what you should and should not do when writing a comic book.

Carson Fleming: A manipulative trader who uses a fake project to try and bed women. His death is what initially drives Victor to work on his powers.

Mr. Richmond: A sexist executive type who plays favourites with Victor, mainly it seems for his soft-ball skills.

Plot Summary

Norman Neale and his best friend Chuck constantly debate on the subject of "what if you had real superpowers". Then, one day, Norman discovers Victor Ventura. One day, while the two are both getting coffee, Norman drops a mug. Victor amazingly catches the mug in midair, impressing Norman. Norman doesn't think much of it, however, until he is set to videotape Victor at the company softball game. He notices that every time Victor is about to hit the ball, the video momentarily displays static interference.

Norman sets a trap for Victor, wanting to catch him in the act of using his powers. The trap works, but Victor notices Norman watching and threatens to have him fired if he continues down this path. Victor knows he has powers, but also fears that if they become public he would be rejected by society, as well as lose his high-paying job with an imminent promotion. Norman consults Chuck on what to do, and after an initial misunderstanding, Norman lets Chuck continue to believe that Victor is a comic book character of Norman's creation, and Norman receives advice that way. Chuck suggests training Victor and Norman agrees, but again Victor refuses to go along with it.

Meanwhile, Victor's competition, Carson Fleming, introduces the secretary, Andrea Hicks, into a secret project of his. He claims that once he is finished the project and presents it to Mr. Richmond they will both be rewarded.

One night Carson and Victor go out drinking. On their way home, Carson slips on a curb and falls into the path of a car. Victor tries to use his powers to save Carson, but isn't strong enough. Carson is run over and killed. Victor returns to Norman, asking him if his offer of training is still valid.

Norman sets about training Victor, increasing his range and strength. Victor's one weakness, however, is that he cannot concentrate to use his powers well when he has been drinking. Norman ends the training by making Victor save him from the same situation he lost Carson in. He then offers to make Victor "Victory Man", a real life superhero. Victor, mad at Norman for what he pulled, calls him delusional and tells him to go.

Later that day, however, Victor decides to treat Norman to one night of crime fighting as payment for the training. The pair run into a gang of street-toughs, who threaten them. Victor quickly defeats them with his powers, but then begins to force two of the toughs to do humiliating things to each other. Norman begs Victor to stop and they both leave.

Norman tells Chuck that he has given up on Victor, because he has no compassion left. Chuck tells him that he shouldn't give up on his comic-book, because now he has a "killer villain". Norman quickly hangs up, realizing that he may have, indeed, created a villain.

At the same time Andrea shows up at Victor's house, telling Victor that she still wants in on Carson's project. Victor laughs at her, revealing that there was never any project and that it was all a scheme, created by Victor for Carson, to get girls. Andrea gets mad at him, but he uses his powers to paralyze her and hides her in his closet. Soon after, Norman shows up at Victor's, trying to persuade him to give up his powers. However, he lets it slip that he has been getting advice from Chuck. Victor, not realizing that Chuck was oblivious to the fact that Victor was a real person, gets mad at Norman and forces him out.

Just after closing time, Victor breaks into Chuck's comic book store and chokes Chuck to death with his powers. He then breaks into Norman's house and, using his powers to choke his mentor, demands that Norman help him steal money from all the corporate accounts. Norman accepts, not wanting to die and tells Victor that he'll just need to get dressed.

The two break into the corporate building after dark. Victor reveals that Andrea is tied up in the building and that if Norman tries to double-cross him he will hurt her. Norman sets about using stolen banks codes to transfer the money. Norman suggests that they have a drink and so Victor brings out a tall scotch. Norman only drinks a little, however Victor drinks almost the whole bottle. Norman, secretly stalling for time by not actually doing anything on the computer, waits until Victor has passed out before going into the men's bathroom, where he takes off his suit to reveal that he is wearing the Victory Man costume.

Norman, as Victory Man, saves Andrea and tells her to run. Then he tapes Victor to a rolling chair and rolls him to the elevator. While waiting for the elevator, Victor comes to, but isn't focused enough to use his powers. Norman reveals that he put sleeping pills into the scotch and that Victor is going to prison. Victor regains his focus and the pair struggle. Before Victor can finish Norman off, however, Andrea returns and hits him across the face with a fire extinguisher

Norman is interrogated by the police, refusing to keep Victor drugged up as they do so. Norman tries to warn them of Victor's powers, but they refuse to believe it. As a result, Victor breaks free of his hand-cuffs, kills the guard and escapes free.

Main cast

* David Ingram - Victor Ventura
* Perry Mucci - Norman Neale
* Mackenzie Lush - Andrea Hicks
* Daniel Baldwin - Chuck
* Julian Osen - Carson Fleming
* Daniel Krolik - Bob
* John Illingworth - Mr. Richmond
* Pat Brown - Larry Thornton
* Ryan Ward - Ted Harris
* Ken Lashley - Himself

ee also

* List of Canadian films

References

External links

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