It's back. The highly anticipated sequel to 2010's Kick-Ass is here. Aptly named Kick-Ass 2, the superhero action comedy is certainly something to think about, and talk about...and tweet about. The film focuses on the birth of other superheroes inspired by Kick-Ass/Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) as he tries to form a new crime-fighting group. Meanwhile, Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) struggles to lead a 'normal' life in the face of the return of Chris D'Amico and his rebirth as 'The Motherfucker' (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), seeking revenge on Kick-Ass and pretty much the world, for the death of his father in the first film.
Mintz-Plasse's character 'The Motherfucker' is outlandishly vulgar, and continues his streak of being bad at everything - he was bad at being a 'superhero' in Kick-Ass and he's bad at being a super villain in this. He's like an overgrown toddler who buys his hired help but can't really do anything himself. But that's the point. His character provides a good majority of the laughs throughout the film as his lines are so ridiculous, his outfit is eccentric, to say the least, and will have you in a laughing fit for several minutes. It's impossible to take him seriously when he looks like a cross between a gimp and a bird. There's just so much wrong with everything about him, but the character clearly loves it, and that's what makes this funny. Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Dave Lizewski is his usual slightly clumsy, but well-intentioned superhero looking to make a difference. Jim Carrey (despite the controversy surrounding his ethics on the role) puts in a strong performance as Colonel Stars and Stripes, despite his (all too brief) appearance in the film. However, they can all step aside because the real star of this movie is quite clearly Hit-Girl/Mindy Macready (portrayed by ever-rising star Chloë Grace Moretz). She flips, she twists, she swears, everything you could want, she does it. Moretz delivers an incredible performance as the growing teenager who has to decide on what she wants - a normal life with a bunch of bitchy teenagers or kicking a bunch of bad-guy butt as Hit-Girl. Is there really any competition? Hit-Girl's fight with Mother Russia (Olga Kurkulina) is some heavy hitting, backbreaking carnage, and the scene where Moretz's character is high on adrenaline is intensely funny and not dissimilar to a Duracell bunny on acid.
The movie aims to show a more vulnerable and differing side to the 'superheroes', showing audiences that they can be normal, they can be beaten up, they can lose - at times, and that some of them (Mindy) just aren't meant to be 'normal' in the sense of the word, in relation to reality. The best parts of the film by far are when the characters themselves have the realisation of who they are, and who they've always meant to be.
The plot can sometimes feel a bit wayward and a little less structured in some areas, but this didn't make it feel boring - you didn't feel as if you were waiting for it to get exciting or to simply move on or end. It was entertaining, but some people may say that it's not entertaining enough, that it doesn't pack the kind of punch or lacks the originality that the first one had, but others may say you shouldn't take it so seriously, that it is just entertainment. There is no doubt that parts of the movie are hilarious and it's purely personal opinion about whether it's enough to satisfy all audiences.
Naturally, the movie is ridiculously offensive, but it's clear it's not trying to be 'serious', its characters are so over the top and wacky that you can't take them seriously - and you're not meant to. If you go into this movie expecting some light-hearted tale with minimal violence, I would check to see if you bought the right cinema ticket. Because seriously, the film is called 'Kick-Ass 2', what were you really expecting? At many points Mintz-Plasse's character makes ridiculous stereotypical statements about so many people, but the other characters acknowledge this, they acknowledge the fact that he is ridiculous and insane and completely comical.
Altogether it's a freakish menagerie of leather, bodily fluids and foul language. An appropriate comparison would probably be marmite, you're either going to love it or hate it. This will either be a movie you will find hilarious or extremely offensive or hey, it may just not be your thing. But I would recommend holding off judgement until you see it yourself. The best critic for you, is probably yourself on this one. The film will probably garner a mixed opinion, as for some it may not be enough but it holds itself well enough to satisfy those who have a taste for it. Overall, Hit-Girl/Mindy Macready was undoubtedly amazing, the character is brutal but also vulnerable (but not for too long!), she's got the bite of a viper, she doesn't hold back and she bursts onto the screen with more incredibly foul language but that's why we all love her - she's completely bad-ass. There should definitely be a Hit-Girl spin-off, if this doesn't happen, someone will be missing a good opportunity. The film, although dodgy in some places manages to get itself back on track in the end and frankly, Hit-Girl could carry this film purely on her input alone.
4/5 stars. Reviewed by Mel.
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