If you loved KICK-ASS, then KICK-ASS 2 is the perfect sequel!
KICK-ASS 2, set several months after the events of KICK-ASS, sees several actors reprise their roles from the first movie including the three main characters Kick-Ass aka Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), Hit-Girl aka Mindy Macready (Chloe Grace Moretz), and Red Mist aka Chris D’Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Several actors return in supporting roles including Clark Duke as Dave’s best friend, Lyndsy Fonseca as Katie Deauxma, Dave’s girlfriend, and Garrett M. Brown as Dave’s father.
The movie follows the three leads as they try and find their own path. Dave had given up being a hero, but realizes he misses it. After training with Hit-Girl, he joins a group of masked heroes who’d been inspired by his first bout of costumed glory. The “Justice Forever” team, led by Colonel Stars and Stripes (in as subdued a performance as I’ve ever seen Jim Carrey give), provides Dave with a purpose again, until his vigilantism has unforeseen effects on his family.
Hit-Girl had secretly continued her training, including getting Kick-Ass into fighting shape, until her guardian catches her. He makes her promise to give up Hit-Girl and try and be Mindy for a while. She struggles to integrate all her previous experience with her new role as high school student, especially when she comes to the attention of the school’s main clique of popular/mean girls.
Chris D’Amico continues as a spoiled brat, but one with a grudge against Kick-Ass for the murder of his father. He gives up being a hero and opts to become the best super villain that money can buy (minions and shark included). His goal of revenge on Kick-Ass is what drives most of the plot.
If you’re a fan of the comic series or the Hit Girl mini series, note that it is not a faithful adaptation, with no mention of Mindy’s family and a streamlining of other plot points. However, there are a number of secondary characters who make an appearance, and at 103 minutes it doesn’t drag and squeezes a lot of movie, and death toll, into that time period.
The film is about finding your identity and your place in the world. And violence. Lots and lots of violence. If you enjoyed the first movie’s tone and humour, then Kick-Ass 2 is the movie for you.
And stick around during the credits. Just saying.
