Kick Ass 2 (Movie Review)

Review by Paeter Frandsen

I loved the original "Kick Ass" movie. It was independently produced and the concept in general is a tough one to market: R-rated superhero movie with gory action and rough language, based on an unknown cast of characters. What they pulled off in that film was amazing, especially given the kind of movie it was. I've never read any of the Kick Ass comic books, but the original movie blew me away with its unique combination of humor, character drama, and brutal superhero action. It was a deconstruction of the superhero genre that still knew how to be fun, despite some heart-rending moments that still leave me in tears even during my recent fifth viewing. Was there any hope of capturing that lightning in a bottle again? I sat down to watch Kick Ass 2 hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

Kick Ass 2 picks up about four years after the events of Kick Ass. Dave has long since retired from being Kick Ass, focusing instead on graduating from High School. Mindy Macready, however, ditches school every day to continue training and fighting crime as Hit Girl. The superhero movement Dave started has taken off, and numerous people around New York are taking on superhero personas to fight crime and help others. Soon Dave himself gets the itch again, but doesn't want to fight the good fight on his own this time. He quickly connects with other heroes and all seems to be going well until Chris DeMico, the traitor superhero “Red Mist,” decides revenge is long overdue for the death of his father at the hands of Kick Ass. He gathers a band of villains around himself and begins systematically exacting revenge upon Dave.

Kick Ass 2 brings back many of the strengths of the original film, and leaves behind some of the weaknesses. (There are fewer and shorter awkward "sex joke" scenes, although there is one scene containing brief frontal female nudity.) The action is brutal, fun and gory. Stunts and fights are creatively engaging and sometimes nail-biting. Hit Girl isn't quite as quick and nimble, since she (both the character and the actress) is no doubt adjusting to a rapidly changing body, but her fight scenes still look great and are plenty of fun.

There are a number of unexpected moments in the choreography and action that make up for some of the effects budget that this movie didn't have. But make no mistake, despite not being crammed from top to bottom with expensive CG, there are still plenty of cool effects that look great. The difference is that we're also reminded that you don't need visual effects to make an "effect" on your viewers.

The shocking potty mouth on Hit Girl is as active as ever (though a little less shocking now that she's a teenager), and the humor is the same one-two punch combo of dark and ridiculous. This movie had me laughing out loud more often than most so-called "comedies" I've seen in years. (One scene between Hit Girl and some of the "cool girls" at High School will probably make me randomly chuckle whenever I think about for quite a long time.)

Both new and returning cast members do a great job with their material. Jim Carey is a standout performer and nearly unrecognizable as himself. His character provides some of the missing heart left by the absence of Big Daddy, and was a vital part of the experience for me.

The character drama isn't quite as strong as in the first film, but that's not a significant downside, as the first film had tremendous moments of drama, especially in the relationship between Hit Girl and Big Daddy. Relationships and character are both still very important in this film, and continue to provide the surprising but very welcome emotional heart of the film. It's easy to care about these characters, to wince when they are injured, to feel down when they are in tears, and to celebrate when they are successful.

These films do something that most other superhero movies fail to do. They represent evil as really evil. Sure, a maniac threatening to blow up America is certainly evil, but that's a kind of evil that is far removed from the common person’s experience. In Kick Ass 2, villains use knives and guns. The bad guys are rapists, child molesters and drive-by shooters. And without a long, revered comic book history, there is no roster of "safe" characters- no Alfreds, Lois Lanes, or Mary Janes. Anyone the viewer cares about could be lost at any time, and the danger to characters is as real as it is in our world. So when good triumphs, when lives are saved, it feels that much more satisfying.

Kick Ass 2 is a good movie to watch if you need a reminder that Justice is a virtue worth holding on to. When it comes to the popular views of God, love and compassion are at the top, while Justice is not talked about much. But we all crave justice, and this movie is a reminder of why we should. Evil should be punished, no matter what form it takes. Whether it is a brutal killing or the intentional humiliation of another person, these actions require justice. Hit Girl is aware of this on a very gut level, as she tells her guardian Marcus that when she sees evil she can't stand by and do nothing. All of the heroes in this movie are plagued by similar convictions.

Colonel Stars and Stripes, played by Jim Carrey, is a great example of this and is revered by the other heroes for it in the same way the heroes of other stories admire Superman or Captain America. As a former mob-enforcer turned born-again Christian, he is far from the typical Christian stereotype seen in most movies. He may be more extreme in many ways than a Christian should be, but he is written to be a very likeable, virtuous character. He is good for the sake of being good. Christians especially will enjoy this (finally!) fresh approach to the portrayal of a Christian onscreen, but even non-Christians will likely enjoy the character and the heart (and laughs) he brings to the film.

Kick Ass 2 isn't for everyone, but if you enjoyed the first one you're in for another treat. And considering how hard it is to market a movie like this, if you're a fan of the first I'd recommend seeing this in the theater to let Hollywood know that there is an audience out there for movies made in this way and exploring these kinds of themes. (And be sure to stay until the credits are over!! A third film seems intended!!)

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and brief nudity

Quality: 9/10

Relevance: 8/10