Director: Jeff Wadlow
Rated R
Running Time: 103 mins.
Action | Comedy | Crime
Review by Lucía Santiago Dantés.
The long awaited return of the superheroes wannabes finally opened this weekend. Just for the buzz created I had an idea of what was the story about and honestly it was exactly what I was expecting. We would say that it was predictably and even lower key than Kick Ass; but you can’t expect more of it. The first one was all about an original story, showing the characters, and regular people who wanted to be super heroes for real. Of course it was all about the wow factor. As in this one, we all have our own expectations and that’s hard to fulfill no matter how good you are at writing. Simply you can’t please everyone. That doesn’t diminished that if you are craving for more Kick Ass and Hit Girl adventures you will have plenty of them in this flick.
Kick Ass 2 is all about what happens with the characters after chaos is created in their personal lives and the aftermath of the deaths of Big Daddy/ Damon Macready (Nicolas Cage) and his némesis Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong). Mindy (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Dave (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are growing up and facing new stages in life. Different problems arise to both of them and Dave is questioning what is he going to do with his life? does he wants to pursue a double life as a vigilante? or just move on, keep a quiet life and fade away?. Mindy/Hit Girl on the other hand, is forced to reintegrate to school and society. Live a normal life, as a girl her age is supposed to be. Dave tries to secretly make a team with Hit Girl despite her reluctancy, but doesn’t understand why Mindy took the decision of quitting her Hit Girl persona so he has to come to terms with her decision and begins to look for more people like him; finding several new friends, but quietly he knows that they’ll never be at Mindy’s level.
Meanwhile Chris D’Amico / Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) lives on the day he will avenge his father’s death from Kick Ass. Opportunity knocks when after an accident involving her mother he’s now is in absolute control of his life and parents’ wealth. Soon he hires the meanest killers and creates a super villain crew. He change identity and now he is known as The Motherfucker. All with the power of money.
And so, both sides get new teams and new adventures. Kick Ass inspires a new wave of vigilantes like Colonel Stars and Stripes, played by Jim Carrey who I didn’t recognized him until 20 minutes after his first appearance, (yes it was that good the make up and acting) what gave him away? his smile! it’s his trademark! Too bad the protagonist of The Mask is now regretting his role on the flick due to its violent content, because his job was just awesome!
Another character to note is Dr. Gravity played by Donald Faison better known for his role in Clueless (1995) as Murray.
Mother Russia (Olga Kurkulina) is a fiercefull character and the only contendant that matches Hit Girl’s power. Indeed a good fight to watch!
Although the film is violent, I really loved Kick Ass 2. Maybe it’s the same as the first one, but that’s why I liked it. Certainly you feel Big Daddy’s absence. And something’s going on between some Mindy and Dave. At times is just funny, at times is implied but at the end of the day it kind of makes sense, after all they do share the same goals.
El Kiosko Magazine 