Kick-Ass 2 // Review

Back to superheroes this month – well, heroes, anyway – as costumed crime fighters Dave and Mindy, aka Kick-Ass and Hit Girl return in Kick-Ass 2. After the events of the first film, the duo has inspired Justice Forever - a new group of citizens who cape-up and fight crime in the city led by the born-again mobster, Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey). Everything looks to be bone-shatteringly peaceful, until the return of the Red Mist (re-born as the Mother Fucker), who makes it his sole purpose to eliminate the crime-fighting team. Throw high school graduation into the mix, and it’s less American Pie and more American Guns as the good guys come face to face with their biggest threat yet – but will this film be their biggest success? Well, no one thought that the first film would be a success after the studio was upset at its ultra-violent tone and large budget. They wanted something softer, more marketable to a wider audience. Luckily for us, they didn’t get their way, and after the first film took $96m at the box office, they didn’t with this one either. This film is, thankfully, just as violent and offensive as the first - so much so in fact, that when Jim Carrey saw the end result, he completely disassociated himself with the project (bet you still cashed that cheque though, eh Jim?). Regardless of whatever second thoughts he might have had, Carrey is great at filling the gap o’crazy left empty by Nicholas Cage, and returning cast members; Taylor-Johnson, Moretz and Mintz-Plasse play their roles as perfectly as before. Jeff Wadlow has taken over the director’s chair from Matthew Vaughan, but don’t worry – it still has the dark, threatening undertone that made the first such a success. See it if you like schoolgirls with swords, fast-paced fight scenes set to cool music or funny one-liners. I like all three. Smiley