Kick Ass sequel loses the fight

Kick Ass 2

Directed by Jeff Wadlow

Rated R, 103 minutes

I had a lot of fun with the original “Kick Ass,” as it was loaded with violence [most by a 11-year-old girl] and humor, so I had high hopes for the second installment. Ultimately, the pop of the first film was gone and the sequel kind of nudges ass rather than kicking it.

   All of the characters who survived the first film are back, including Kick Ass, Hit Girl and The Red Mist, who after accidently killing his mother, becomes the world’s first super villain – The Mother Fucker.  Dressed in bondage gear, he recruits a number of criminals to watch his back including Mother Russia, a bigger and stronger version of Brigitte Nielsen in “Rocky IV.” 

The Mother Fucker and his gang of villains 

   Meanwhile, Kick Ass has continued training with Hit Girl, but soon she tries to become a normal teenage girl and her story almost ruins the entire film. This was by far the worst of the three storylines and almost lead me to hating the film. I don’t want to see Hit Girl become a mean girl, I want to see her slash off limbs with her double-edged sword thing. But with Hit Girl out of the way, Kick Ass needs help, which leads him to reach out to fellow masked heroes [there have been plenty since Kick Ass first popped up] and meets Dr. Gravity [a great Donald Faison]. 

Look out for Dr. Gravity, a mixture of The Watchmen and Mystery Men

   After heading out on patrol, Dr. Gravity invites Kick Ass to meet up with a group of masked heroes, which is where the film really picks up thanks to the gang’s leader, Colonel Stars & Stripes [an amazing Jim Carrey]. Some of the other members of the group, who ultimately call themselves “Justice Forever,” include Night Bitch [Lindy Booth] and Insect Man [Robert Emms]. Colonel Stars & Stripes is by far the best part of the film and Carrey knocks the role out of the park. It’s a shame he isn’t used more, but he really becomes the heart of the film and his performance is main reason I’m recommending the film.

Capt. Stars & Stripes getting ready to fuck up some bad guy

   All of the story lines play out, leading to a finale of epic proportion, where The Mother Fucker’s gang of super villains fight Justice Forever, charging at each other for some hand to hand combat and it’s a lot of fun. 

Night Bitch and Dr. Gravity surrounded by the rest of Justice Forever

  Don't get me wrong, there were some moments of pure excitement in "Kick Ass 2," but the momentum shifted so frequently, I could never really get on board with the film. "Kick Ass 2" continually let me down, which is so frustrating because it should have been much better [and would have if original director Matthew Vaughn returned]. I never thought I would say this about a movie, but I miss Nic Cage.