Kick-Ass 2

Short Verdict: Bigger, broader and more infantile than the original, Kick-Ass 2 loses much of the wit and charm of the original.

Kick-Ass exploded onto the superhero scene in 2010 presenting this idea: “What if a superhero existed in real life?” While other films have done this idea better since (Super in particular), it is a different, quirky idea for mainstream audiences back in 2010 (especially in the face of continual superhero sequels). Dave Lizewski (Taylor Aaron-Johnson), comic-book geek, asks why aren’t there any superheroes in real-life? Deciding to take it on himself, he dons the mask of Kick-Ass. He quickly becomes involved in a war between mafia crime bosses and Big Daddy (played with Adam West glee by Nicholas Cage), along with his profanity spurting daughter, Hit-Girl (Chloe Grace-Mortez). Kick-Ass 2 picks up the story as more superheroes are appearing in New York, mostly in response to Dave’s heroic acts in the original film. Deciding it is difficult to work solo, Dave joins a super hero team, led by Jim Carrey’s Colonel Stars and Stripes. Meanwhile, Hit-Girl is struggling to adapt to high-school social life (Big Daddy died in the original), while Chris D’Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) the son of the mafia boss re-emerges as a super-villian, seeking revenge for the heroes’ actions. All out war begins to occur and it is up to Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl and the members of Colonel Stars and Stripes’ team to make the important choices one must make as a hero.

Kick-Ass 2 plays out like a bigger version of the original, upping the stakes and presenting difficult challenges for the characters. As a sequel to the original, Kick-Ass 2 continues to present high-octane, colourful and brazen action and violence. However, the issue with the sequel is that it does not attempt anything really different with the main story. In fact, the B-story, of Hit-Girl struggling to adapt to high-school, has more heart and humour than the main story. Dealing with the cliques and cruelty of teenage girls, Hit-Girl tries to become part of this world of popularity. Not wanting to give plot away, though those familiar with the character, will probably guess that doesn’t pan out, eventually ending with a Troma-esque scene of revenge. However, the main plot simply does not have the same drive or interest. While the new heroes (and villains) are fun in their patheticness (with the exception of the imposing Mother Russia)  and Jim Carrey’s performance is as delightfully mad as you want it to be, the story feels like it is just tying up the loose ends of the original and not really pushing the story and themes forward in new directions. The exception to this is, of course, the Hit-Girl subplot, which is strong enough it could be its own films.  The original was a surprisingly tightly-plotted film, while the sequel meanders from kinetic action scene to the next. The action scenes themselves are well-presented and shot, in particular the finale, it just lacks the drive and momentum of the original. The performances overall are fine, in particular from Mortez, however Taylor Aaron-Johnson’s central performance lacks any kind of charm, making it difficult to latch onto the main plot.

Ultimately, fans of the original will be happy with this gleeful return to the blood soaked world of Kick-Ass – there is enough bizarre moments, funny lines and character moments to keep most going. However, for those wanting to see the story progress further and build upon the ideas of the original, you may want to wait until the, inevitable, third film. Kick-Ass 2 feels too much like closing the plot points of the original without really doing anything different with them. The B-plot dealing with Hit-Girl fitting into high-school society is strong enough to hold interest, and builds upon the ideas of the original. Otherwise, Kick-Ass 2 falls into the problems of many sequels – making it bigger and better, while adhering to the original too much and not building upon it. The violence in particular comes across as more infantile than the original – while the original used it to subvert comic book traditions (if a superhero existed in really life, he probably get beaten into a bloody pulp!), the sequel falls into the realms of the medium it was trying to subvert.

Long Verdict: Kick-Ass 2 is a vibrant and bloody action film which fails to build upon the original. Lacking much of the drive and heart of the original, the film squanders in presenting wackier and crazier characters and ideas without really trying something new. The exception to this is the Hit-Girl subplot, which sees the character struggling to adapt to school-life. The rest feels like an empty whole, as the plot lurches crazy action scenes to the next, without any of the tight-plotting of the original. There are great moments littered around the film, however the whole just doesn’t hold up. 

Rating: 5/10