Curator Watchlist
A messy, meaner sequel that doubles down on the first film’s juvenile shock humor and uneven tone, but still has enough energy, action, and Chloë Grace Moretz’s ferocity to keep comic-book fans engaged. It’s more scattershot than inspired, and the satire lands inconsistently, yet it remains watchable if you’re in… Read more
Where to watch: Buy
Wed · 1h 43m
Director: Jeff Wadlow
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
After Kick-Ass’ insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, he joins a patrol led by the Colonel Stars and Stripes. When these amateur superheroes are hunted down by Red Mist — reborn as The Mother Fucker — only the blade-wielding Hit-Girl can prevent their annihilation.
Jeff Wadlow
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
A messy, meaner sequel that doubles down on the first film’s juvenile shock humor and uneven tone, but still has enough energy, action, and Chloë Grace Moretz’s ferocity to keep comic-book fans engaged. It’s more scattershot than inspired, and the satire lands inconsistently, yet it remains watchable if you’re in the mood for crude, hyperactive vigilante chaos.
Kick-Ass 2 is the kind of sequel that mistakes escalation for improvement. It pushes harder on the crude jokes, the splattery violence, and the “real world superheroes” premise, but the result is less sharp than noisy, with a tone that keeps slipping out from under itself.
That said, the movie does have a scrappy, comic-book-trash energy that never fully dies. Chloë Grace Moretz remains the best reason to watch, and the action has enough bite to remind you why this franchise got attention in the first place.
As a follow-up, it’s disappointing; as a piece of disposable, aggressively juvenile superhero mayhem, it can still go down easy if you know exactly what you’re signing up for. The problem is that the film keeps reaching for satire, gross-out comedy, and emotional stakes all at once, and rarely lands all three.
taylor (3★) · 1412 likes
i mean it wasn’t great but not every sequel can be High School Musical 2
Benjamin Clarke (2★) · 859 likes
Where’d Evan Peters go?
7eafhurricane (3.5★) · 780 likes
Was that kiss necessary? These idiots gotta make everything romantic.
Matt Singer (1.5★) · 768 likes
I'm not reviewing this for anyone, so here are some notes on KICK-ASS 2: -This movie takes the biggest problem with the first film, its uncertain tone, and amplifies it. The whole gag of these KICK-ASS movies and comics is supposed to be super heroes in "the real world." "This isn't a comic book, this is real life!" characters in KICK-ASS 2 say on multiple occasions. But Mark Millar and Jeff Wadlow cannot resist an opportunity for a puerile gag… more
mads (2.5★) · 632 likes
aaron taking off his shirt made this whole movie worth it. all the stars are just for that scene and that scene alone!
A sharper, nastier indie take on amateur vigilantism and delusional heroism, with similar discomfort around violence and fantasy.
A comic-book ensemble built around misfit heroes, self-serious parody, and affectionate genre mockery.
A cult, ultra-violent outsider superhero story that matches the crude energy and transgressive tone.
A darker, more grounded story about young people gaining powers and the moral collapse that follows.
Stylized comic-book action with youth culture, self-aware humor, and heightened visual invention.
A more serious deconstruction of masked heroes, vigilantism, and the cost of power.
A flawed but similarly irreverent superhero riff that mixes cynicism, action, and damaged characters.
A cleaner, more intelligent family-friendly version of superhero identity, teamwork, and public perception.
A gleefully violent, retro-styled cult action film with comic-book absurdity and splatter humor.
The original film that establishes the franchise’s blend of brutality, satire, and adolescent wish fulfillment.
A colorful, chaotic R-rated comic-book ensemble with anarchic energy and stylized violence.
A cynical ensemble about young people thrown into a brutal system, useful for its anti-heroic edge and corrosive tone.
vigilantism, superhero satire, coming-of-age, revenge, ensemble chaos, graphic violence, juvenile humor, identity and performance
superhero satire, R-rated action, dark comedy, comic-book violence, coming-of-age, vigilante justice, juvenile humor, ensemble cast, 2010s, antihero