The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows.
While it pings the coming-of-age tropes well enough, Kick-Ass 2 doesn’t quite have the heart of the original. Just a lot of blood, guts and (very) rude words.
A more modest success than the first Kick-Ass, but still of-a-piece with its scurrilous predecessor. Nobody flies a jet-pack up a skyscraper this time, but Kick-Ass 2 still has its share of over-the-top action, and the sweary laughs are just about intact.
As an action movie, though, it’s also a bit meatier than most, with the last act battle between Hit Girl and a van full of gun-toting heavies a sublime piece of outrageous comic book action of the sort the recent Wolverine movie could have used. But then that’s the advantage of being the scrappy, scurrilous underdog of the superhero world: you can dare to have your cake and eat it.
This time the transgressive punch-ups feel awfully forced.
Even fans of the original are likely to feel deeply disappointed.
Kick-Ass 2 insists that its characters face up to the real-world consequences of their play-fighting; that they question their identities and learn important life lessons. In short, it keeps on spoiling the fun.
I remain pretty much in two minds about it myself. Moretz is a dynamic presence, and fires off her spiky one-liners with magnificent timing. The downside of her star quality is that she puts the rest in a pretty feeble light.
It's a moderate follow-up to the first exhilarating adventure. If there is to be another episode, it must surely be a Wolverine-style solo outing for Chloë Moretz's Hit-Girl. She is the real star.
Graphic violence and foul language remain the calling cards for this superhero sequel.
Kick Ass 2 writer 'delighted' with Jim Carrey snub, says actor has done the movie a favour
General release. Check local listings for show times.