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Updated for BluRay Release (Spoilers)

The Feel of the Film:

The movie is as the name suggests, a kick ass flick. The story takes an interesting turn, even if it is just further expansion on the themes presented in the first. There is plenty of action and mayhem to go around. All the characters left standing at the end of the first film return. This is great for continuity; there was no major recasting, which can easily break the feel of existing characters. Actors often take liberties with how they want to portray established roles. The only recasting was a substantial improvement upon the role of Marcus (Morris Chestnut). The directorial change is notable. This is not to imply Jeff Wadlow did not keep true to the world established in the first Kick Ass. Wadlow was careful with the material, but did fail to take note of the excellent cinematography present in the first. The choreography in the fight sequences may have been just as good as in the original Kick Ass, but tighter shots and off-center cuts distract and obscured the action. Wadlow also composed the script, and filled the gap of time between Kick Ass 1 & 2 in a somewhat acceptable, if not particularly interesting way. This aspect of the story could have been handled better. Overall this feel like the same universe.The film delivers what it promises. By all accounts I should be satisfied, only I'm not. This is not to say the flick is not good, it is. Still I feel something is missing. The first Kick Ass was a total surprise. Nick Cage was epic as Big Daddy, and his memory lingers in the atmosphere of Kick Ass 2.

Character Relations and Arcs:

Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), while still awesome, felt incomplete in this flick. It was interesting to see Hit Girl try and integrate into society and be a normal girl. This was intriguing, but a bit too typical as far as how high school is portrayed in movies. It did however provide Mindy AKA Hit Girl extra screen time. This is always a good thing. The dynamic between Hit Girl and Big Daddy was one of the most interesting things about the original Kick Ass. What is missing in Kick Ass 2 may very well be Big Daddy. Wadlow's script at one point included a dream-like sequence in which Nick Cage would have reprised his iconic role. Sadly, this scene was deemed unnecessary and never shot. I disagree completely. This scene would have played out perfectly in the film, and it would have given Hit Girl's story arc a more satisfying conclusion. Basically, Mindy/Hit Girl is at odds with who she truly is, and what the world and new guardian would have her be. She has always obeyed Big Daddy, and his final wishes are a bit unclear. Does she obey her new guardian, or does she keep her promise to keep protecting the city? As a BluRay bonus, audiences can now view a rough storyboard of Big Daddy's unshot scene. In the deleted Big Daddy scene, he basically sets Hit Girl free. Chloe Grace Moretz was born to play Hit Girl. She does an amazing job! Any talk of recasting her with a younger actress is ridiculous. Luckily, the script has made allowances for Hit Girl to grow up. Likewise Aaron Taylor delivers the Kick Ass we have all come to know and love. His story arch is hard hitting, but falls a bit short. His character did not seem to evolve much between Kick Ass 1 & 2. The BR includes a few interesting commentary segments in which an alternate beginning to the film is explored. This alternate beginning includes a scene that explains the awkward-feeling relationship between Kick Ass and his long-term girlfriend Katie (Lyndsy Fonseca). The couple have been together for years by the time Kick Ass 2 starts up, yet there is little-to-no explanation for why the two characters seem to relate to each other in a very dry fashion. This feels very much out of place considering the relationship provided substantial plot movement in the first film. Kick Ass fought hard to win her heart. The relationship was hurriedly written out in order to make room for a new love interest. This decision should have been handled better, and it reeks of lazy writing. This sort of tangentialism is representative of my previous comments regarding the lapse of time between Kick Ass 1 & 2. That being said, Kick Ass's new love interest is a very welcome addition the the cast. Not because she is a particularly well-written character, but because she is a comic book geek's wet dream. This film may have needed a broader audience to perform well at the box office, but it did not forget its core demographic. Night Bitch (Amy Anzel) is a sexy vixen with a kinky streak and a good heart. She fights crime in a tight, rather reviling outfit that is lust inspiring to say the least.

While the relationship between Hit Girl and Big Daddy was and continues to be relevant and interesting, the relationship between Kick Ass and Hit Girl is not as fulfilling. The film does its best to gloss over this fact with new characters. While these characters were interesting, they were not fully explored and felt a bit flat. Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey) was the more complex in the bunch, and he did not get much screen time. His death was not as heart-breaking as Big Daddy's in the first Kick Ass, but I was sorry to see him go so soon. I wanted to know more about him. Jim Carrey did a great job portraying the character of Colonel Stars and Stripes. The rise of the Mother Fucker (Christopher Mintz), the film's villain, previously known as Red Myst, is a major character focus. The character has great progression in Kick Ass 2, and his dialogue is some of the best and funniest in the film. Christopher Mintz delivers a fun performance as the Mother Fucker. An argument can be made that Christopher Mintz stole this movie from AaronTaylor, and gave Chloe Grace Moritz a run for her money.

Verdict:

The verdict on Kick Ass 2 is a good one. There is nothing to suggest you should expect anything more than a great time, plenty of action, and a bit of social commentary for good measure. Overall, it is a well-conceived second chapter in the Kick Ass Trilogy, and I am excited for the next installment. The performances were strong, but the cinematography could have benefited from wider more encompassing shots. The script had a few weaknesses, but these are not damning. I would have liked to see more of Hit Girl and Kick Ass's relationship on screen. The dynamic between them plays well, but the absence of Nick Cage as Big Daddy is deeply felt. Some of the new characters are under developed and fail to hit their mark.

(Rating: 3 1/2 Stars) Above Average

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