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Kick-Ass 2 - Review

Let's face the facts. Kick-Ass 2 was never going to be as good as the phenomenal first film, but it could have been better. It is undoubtedly a mess, but an enjoyable one that will make you laugh, will move you and will keep you on the edge of your seat.


Set a couple of years after the first film, Dave, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, has retired from being Kick-Ass starting to lead a normal life. Meanwhile, Mindy (Chloe Grace Moretz) is missing school to train as she continues to be Hit-Girl. But with the return of Chris D'Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) as the world's first super-villain The Motherfucker, things change.


The film opened well setting up the story nicely, whilst showing signs of the heart and charm that the first film had. The jokes were funny, the action scenes fun and well choreographed and the acting superb. Even Jim Carrey gave a good performance, but his character was rather one-dimensional with a storyline that did not come to much. 

It was all looking good, but then the film lost its way becoming disjointed and badly executed. Much of the middle section is occupied by Mindy trying to find out who she is via a high school clique. With echoes of Mean Girls it did not sit well with the rest of the film and was poorly done. If Goldman, the writer of the first, had her hands on the script it would have been done right unlike the mess it actually was. The jokes became misguided, the violence silly and the action boring. But thankfully it found it's way again with a stunning climax full of emotion, drama and action.


The idea of the first film was 'what would happen in reality if someone tried to be a superhero?' and this worked well. This key idea is lost in the middle parts of Kick-Ass 2 however, where everything becomes rather silly and most importantly unrealistic. I am looking at you diarrhoea stick! But when the story becomes darker with some deaths it starts working again as the key theme of realism is brought back in. Kick-Ass 2 like the first is fun, but dark and emotional at times meaning you may cry as well as laugh. These emotional scenes allow the actors to really shine - especially Taylor-Johnson and Moretz. Like the first, Hit-Girl owns the film with an outstanding performance from the young Moretz. The superb performances from all the actors means we get attached to their characters building emotional connections with them. We even feel sorry for The Motherfucker, played by the brilliant Mintz-Plasse, who also has his moments of tragedy and drama.

If someone was there to sort out the middle section, maybe Goldman and Vaughn from the first film, this sequel would have been the one fans and the first film deserved. It is shame really as the majority of the film really does kick ass with brilliant performances, fantastic action sequences, funny jokes and powerful drama. One question though - what is with the Union J in-your-face product placement? I mean really?

3.5 nunchucks out of 5

Words by Emily Murray