“Kick Ass 2” Kicks its Mark into the Superhero Movie Genre
“Kick
Ass 2” continues the story of Kick Ass after former dork gone masked vigilante,
Dave (a.k.a. Kick Ass) played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Mindy (a.k.a. Hit
Girl) (Chloe Grace Moretz) struggle to lead ordinary high school lives while
fighting crime on the streets of New York.
When Hit Girl is forced to
retire her suit, Kick Ass turns to a new group of superheroes led by Colonel
Stars (Jim Carrey). The group was bred from Kick Ass’ growing popularity as the
world’s first real super hero.
However, you can’t have heroes
without villains. It’s only fair that Red Mist, played by Christopher Mintz
Plasse (though we all know him as McLovin’), returns with a vengeance and a
bounty on Kick Ass’ head.
The synopsis may sound
innocent and average at best. While you may initially question whether or not
this movie really deserves an R rating with its “Mean Girls” subplot playing
out like a Judy Bloom book on PCP, all traces of doubt instantly fly out the
window once the real action begins.
But in the wake of the
comic book hype that’s been storming Hollywood in recent years, how does yet
another super hero sequel set itself apart from the washed-up, overdone remains
of a nearly beaten down genre? The answer lies within the movie demographic.
The film is crude as well
as violent. Older generations may be quick to agree and see it as distasteful
and horrifying with its blasé killing scenes contrasted with an energetic
blithe soundtrack and brightly saturated color schemes.
The young folks, however,
see things a bit differently.
The film is meant to appeal
to a generation brought up in a world where nightmare inducing images are
plastered in their books, television and news.
In an interview with UK magazine
The Sun, leading actress Chloe Grace Moretz easily dismisses the hype with,
“It’s a movie and it’s fake.”
Though she looks sugary and
sweet, Moretz delivers the shock factor to the now grown-up young girl. She’s
no rookie to the slur of profanities as demonstrated with her previous roles in
films like “Hick” and “The Poker House.”
The rest of the cast
performances equally match hers. Jim Carrey is nearly unrecognizable as the Colonel.
The English Aaron Taylor-Johnson easily slips back into the inspiring role of
the average American underdog.
The movie is full of sexual
innuendos, heavy violence, and crude language. It almost reads as new age
macabre with a hint of farce. It is “Pulp Fiction” meets chick flick meets
superhero story. However, under all the absurdities there is a story of self-discovery
and consequences.
Author: Jazmine De La Cruz