Kick-Ass 2 Review
RYAN: This is finally here! I loved the first one and liked it better than this sequel, but Kick-Ass 2 is great as well. It’s more of the same. It’s an original tone – not straightforward superhero or comedy genre, but an R-rated mix of the two.
CHUCK: I wanted to but never saw the first one. I remember the controversy surrounding the language then and seeing an interview with the young Chloe Grace Moretz, and now seeing this, I did enjoy it too.
RYAN: It’s really fun and exciting and keeps you engaged. We attended the screening on a day when I was exhausted but this movie perked me up and kept me attentive the whole time. Chloe is once again a scene stealer. She has the best moments.
CHUCK: She’s really the emotional core of the film. She had a great arc. I kinda wish the movie was called Hit-Girl. She’s such a fantastic actress.
RYAN: It’s just a little strange coming out the same year as Carrie, where she’s playing another bullied high schooler.
CHUCK: Yeah the underdog, revenge theme reminded me of Heathers.
RYAN: I looooved the popular mean girls in this movie.
CHUCK: They were fantastic, absolutely wonderful. They’re almost worse that the actual villains in the movie.
RYAN: Let’s talk about ATJ, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. I fell in love with him in the first film and he’s made great movies since then. He’s one of my faves – not only because he’s a stunner, but he’s also a very good actor.
CHUCK: He’s good looking and talented but he straddles the line between teenager and adult. He sort of defies categorization.
RYAN: Jim Carrey was really great. This was one of his better character roles. There was no shred of Jim Carrey. They built up his face and changed his voice – he was brilliant.
CHUCK: He underplayed the character which is refreshing for him. It could have easily been over-the-top but he pulled it back and I liked it. He reportedly has problems with the violence in the film.
RYAN: Please. He must have seen the first one and read the script. Whatever.
CHUCK: The movie does cross some lines.
RYAN: It’s rated R. It’s a graphic movie and it’s clear what it sets out to be. Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who I normally don’t care much about, is again good in this role. He’s funny.
CHUCK: He’s suited for the role because he’s annoying. The character’s name is hilarious.
RYAN: John Leguizamo is there but seriously underused. He’s capable of being so much more but his role could have really been anyone.
CHUCK: He’s just the straight man in this role. Donald Faison is in this and it’s nice to see him – one of the best smiles in Hollywood. All the villains and heroes were well cast.
RYAN: It’s also so well costumed. It really looks like what you’d wear if you built your own superhero costume at home. It’s not like in the Spider-Man movies where Peter Parker makes his own costume and it ends up looking supernaturally perfect.
CHUCK: The production value is designed so well.
RYAN: It does hit the sequel slump a little bit in the middle with a lull but it certainly picks back up again.
CHUCK: Hit-Girl always gives it a boost whenever she’s on.
RYAN: Yeah she’s involved in a great storyline about bullying and dealing with it and there’s a great lesson in there about being yourself. It’s so deep. It certainly earns its R rating. I really liked it. You’ll enjoy it whether you saw the first or not.
