Rated R

103 min

Directed by: Jeff Wadlow

Written by: Jeff Wadlow

The Ghost of Big Daddy, The Ghost of Matthew Vaughn 

I’m with Jim Carrey on this.  This movie never should have been made.  And not because of the sensationalist violence per say, but because of the cynical, nihilist, soulless void behind the scrotum crushing, decapitations and lawnmower haircuts.  Kick-Ass was a shocking success because it walked such a thin line between farce and fandom, between being trenchant and being tactless.  It flirted it both, but it was neither.

Kick-Ass 2 is a much more obtuse instrument than its predecessor, less nimble, broadly drawn, cheap and lazy; there is no verve here.  There is precious little humor (ironic or straight).  There is maybe one action scene of any note (if you haven’t seen Skyfall).  Even Chloe Grace Moretz looks embarrassed, and she didn’t have to wear a leather bondage suit. Kick-Ass 2 is a sequel without teeth and with nothing to say.  It hums.

In this climate, if you’re going to charge your audience money to watch high school students shoot each other in the chest you better have good reason.  Or you better pretend.  Maybe the problem isn’t Kick-Ass 2, maybe it’s the atmosphere of the country.  Maybe it’s us.  We are now and will forever be in the wake of Sandy Hook.  Humor is different now.  School violence is different now.  Audiences are different.  Or maybe we are not the problem, maybe it’s Jeff Wadlow.

Jeff Wadlow, who “directed” and wrote this impotent sequel is the nephew of Katie Couric.  Which tells you everything you need to know without telling you anything at all.  Had Universal made this film first it would have gone under for certain.  And before you claim I just don’t “get it”, yes, I have read all of the comics.  Rent Super.

4/10