Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Dave Lizewski / Kick-Ass
Overview
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.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
unclepizzaman
Looks good
Read full reviewDoryDarko
*** This review contains MAJOR spoilers *** This is actually not so much a review as it is a vehicle for me to express my utter disgust of what was supposed to be a great sequel to what I consider one of the coolest movies ever made. I absolutely loved Kick-Ass. It was fresh, it was original, and in spite of its crude and graphic violence, absolutely hilarious. Its sequel, is nothing short of an abomination. For your convenience, I have comprised a list of Everything Wrong with Kick-Ass 2: 1. The gore. It's not that it was worse than KA1, it's that it was very different in tone. Whereas in the first movie – where the violence was equally gut-wrenching – the nature of it all was laugh-out-loud hilarious, mostly because it was executed by a foul-mouthed 12-year-old school girl. KA2 on the other hand, feels more like a snuff movie where good guys and innocent bystanders are brutally slaughtered, just for the hell of it. Which leads me to point number two: 2. The targets. In the first movie, the whole point was easy: killing bad guys. So, no bad feelings and no conflict of interest. For the second installment, it seems the moral compass has taken a 180 degree turn. Here we have to sit and watch the good guys dropping dead one by one, and it isn't the least bit funny. I'd like to give you a heads-up on the brutal murder of Dave's dad, the most innocent good guy of them all. Yeah, I didn't see than one coming either. 3. The bad guys. Good god. Rarely have I seen such an array of dumb, sickeningly stupid villains. Most of the slaughtering and mayhem is done by one block-of-concrete-with-boobs called Mother Russia (what's in a name?). Everything about her just makes you sick to your stomach, especially the way she offs her victims. She is part of the main villain's gang, and don't even get me started on this guy… Remember Red Mist? He was pretty funny in KA1, wasn't he. Yeah well, those days are over. After accidentally on purpose killing his own mother (!), he proclaims himself the new great villain of New York, henceforth calling himself The Motherf***er (again, what's in a name…). He rallies a group of equally douche baggy cronies. Their mission is to kill Kick-Ass and all who follow him. Their first strike? Killing off the best new character. 4. Jim Carrey's screen time. The poor guy clocks out at exactly 7 minutes and 45 seconds. He plays Colonel Stars and Stripes, and he is by far the best addition to the cast. What's remarkable about his performance is that he's barely recognizable. His speaking voice is low and brooding, and there's not a funny face in sight. Really cool character all around. After waiting for what feels like forever for him to finally appear, guess what; not ten minutes later – gone. Impaled, slaughtered and decapitated by Mother Russia. I'd like to have a hearty word with the "screenwriter" who's responsible for this. He needs to go back to school. Here's my advice anyway – free of charge: YOU DON'T KILL OFF THE BEST CHARACTER HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOVIE. Dumbass. 5. The "humour". In KA1, the humour was cheeky, intelligent, and perfect satire. And where it was crude, it was right up at the top, but never really over it. Second time around, we have to make do with projectile vomiting and violent diarrhoea. Really, poop jokes…? Now this is a perfect example of what 'we' (we meaning – people over 13 with normal intelligence and a healthy sense of humour) call "rock bottom". Yes. They go that low. I'm going to stop here before I start remembering all of the other "jokes". 6. Lack of proper Hit-Girl action. Hit-Girl was always the star of the show. In KA2, she is given a dumb sub-plot where she vows to quit her alter-ego job and become a 'normal', prissy little cheerleader, competing with other Barbie girls to become popular. I really, really hated this story line. I don't even care if it was in the original comics, it sucked. The reason why it sucked the most is because effectively, this means that the essence of Hit-Girl is completely vacant for about 60% of the movie! And that's WAY too much time for the most beloved character to mope around apologetically before she finally gets her s**t together roughly 10 minutes before the end of the movie. 7. Mister Kick-Ass himself. Something went wrong here. I don't know if it was the character that was poorly written or Aaron Taylor-Johnson that came up short, but he was very different from the first movie, in which he had a really cute, geeky charm about him. Here, he was inconspicuous and dull, like a bystander in his own story. Or perhaps he was just overshadowed by the abundance of new and reformed characters… In any case, he was barely there to be noticed. 8. Soundtrack. The score of KA1 was so damn cool, with original, poppy punk music and electro that consistently added something to every scene. Here, I only remember one scene that caught that vibe and it still wasn't half as good. 9. It was seriously offensive. A "joke" about rape? Are you kidding me?! And I'm not talking about some guys hanging around, talking about wanting to 'do' some girl or whatever. No, I'm talking about The Motherf***er seriously intending to rape Night Bitch, except he can't because he's got no wood. Real classy. There are some redeeming points to this otherwise complete crap fest, but honestly, they are so few and far in between they're not even worth mentioning. Well, I guess this is what you get for hiring some D-grade nobody to replace Matthew Vaughn. Don't waste your time with this garbage. _(June 2014)_
Read full reviewDark Jedi
The first Kick Ass movie was a fresh idea and I quite liked that movie. Unfortunately this one seems to have be the creation of someone that believes that a good movie can be made by stacking extreme silliness and vulgarities on top of each other until you reach about a 100 minutes or so. Most of the movie is unbelievably silly. The original movie also had plenty of silly moments but they were more there to support the plot and not to build the movie as in this one. The main villain is so contrived and stupid that he is just not funny. The so called “superheroes” are equally ridiculous. The costumes are just awful. Sure, they are supposed to be amateurs but still… The entire movie is pretty much shouldered by Hit-Girl who is the only one who is not absolutely ridiculous. Without her this movie would have been a total turkey. Unfortunately the vulgarity seeking script writer managed to put her up in a overdone and very disgusting puking scene that really dragged down the movie. The scenes with Hit-Girl in them, except the above mentioned one, and the action scenes are where almost all the enjoyment of the movie lies. The rest is either so silly or so disgusting that it is barely watchable.
Read full reviewCinemaSerf
I was actually quite surprised to see three of the leads who made the first film (2010) return for this far inferior sequel. Following on from the denouement of that enterprise, "Red Mist" (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is using his father's ill-gotten gains to assemble a force that can combat the growing number of lycra-clad have-a-go heroes that are attempting to cut crime in their community. Without dad this time, it falls to "Mindy" (Chloë Grace Moretz) to train up our still pretty hapless hero (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) so they can be ready for the formidable foes that are now facing them. ATJ still looks great with his shirt off, thereafter this is really nothing at all to write home about. It's all just by-the-numbers film making with perfectly choreographed, and extended, combat scenes with violence that has become more graphically brutal leading to a conclusion that you don't need any kind of map to find. What made the first film a bit quirkier is not in evidence here; the language and humour is largely plain crass and Jim Carrey adds really very little as this rumbles along. Hopefully we will never see any more of "Kick-Ass"; this mini-franchise has definitely run it's course and belongs in glass case.
Read full reviewr96sk
Properly underwhelming. <em>'Kick-Ass 2'</em> isn't a bad film in and of itself, it just feels like a serious miscue on all counts - or perhaps I was just expecting something different. In my eyes, I feel like this plot is the type you do for the original movie in a series - not the sequel. It's a character-building story, whereas I think with a follow-up it needs to be a greater continuation. It's also nowhere near as entertaining. <em>'Kick-Ass'</em> has a lot of fun and knows it, this just disappoints as it aims for something more sincere - which didn't quite work, for me. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz felt off it too, at least in comparison to last time out. Jim Carrey feels wasted, this is probably his most forgettable performance that I've seen - and I've seen alot of Carrey's work. It is at least a showing of slightly different ilk compared to his usual schtick, I guess. Olga Kurkulina plays a good character though, while Iain Glen makes himself known in a tiny role. Elsewhere, there are annoying (albeit minor) recasts, always a pet hate of mine. In conclusion, I wanted to enjoy this but I honestly didn't. Feels like a missed opportunity.
Read full reviewAudience Opinions
Audience 6.6/10
"A bloody, energetic sequel that delivers standout action and performances but stumbles with weaker writing, juvenile humor, and a misjudged romance."
Hit-Girl’s brutal set pieces, especially her clash with Mother Russia, and Jim Carrey’s offbeat turn as Colonel Stars and Stripes give the movie its strongest kick, with several viewers even preferring this entry’s character focus and ending. At the same time, the story is widely seen as less genuine and less cohesive than the first film, with crude jokes, tonal whiplash, and an uncomfortable forced kiss between Dave and Mindy dragging it down.
What viewers praise
- Hit-Girl action showcase The Hit-Girl vs. Mother Russia fight and other Mindy scenes are praised as the most exciting and satisfying parts of the film.
- Entertaining over-the-top violence The graphic fights and cartoony brutality are enjoyed as wild, fun spectacle when the movie leans fully into its R-rated tone.
- Jim Carrey’s memorable role Colonel Stars and Stripes is singled out as a funny, engaging presence whose scenes add a welcome jolt of energy.
- Fun despite flaws A sizable group finds it a cool, entertaining continuation with strong cast chemistry and a satisfying plot payoff, even if it never reaches classic status.
Common complaints
- Weaker than the first The sequel is frequently called more mediocre and less fresh than the original, with a sense of wasted potential.
- Cringe and juvenile humor Many jokes and dialogue lines come off as try-hard or childish, undermining the darker themes and making the script feel clumsy.
- Forced romance and kiss The late-film kiss between Dave and Mindy is criticized as unnecessary, uncomfortable, and poorly motivated, breaking their more sibling-like dynamic.
- Mean-spirited tone and nasty gags Some viewers describe the movie as violent in poor taste, with certain shock jokes and plot turns crossing from edgy into off-putting.
- Underused side characters Figures like The Mother Fucker and parts of the Justice Forever lineup are seen as fun ideas that do not get enough screen time or development.
Recommended for
Kick-Ass sequel completists Chloë Grace Moretz devotees R-rated superhero comedy fans Jim Carrey character-role fans Over-the-top action enthusiasts
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsKICK-ASS 2: BLOOD, TEARS & BACKSTABBING – THE REAL-LIFE DRAMA BEHIND THE MASKS
You thought the movie was chaotic? The real mess was happening off-screen. From Jim Carrey’s public moral meltdown to a teen Chloë Grace Moretz being body-shamed on set, Kick-Ass 2 came with more drama than The Motherfucker’s wardrobe.
Scandals & Controversies
Jim Carrey vs. His Own Movie
- Months before release, Jim Carrey went full vigilante… on Kick-Ass 2 itself. After the Sandy Hook shooting, he tweeted that he could “in all good conscience” no longer support the movie’s level of violence, despite having already been paid and wrapped filming
. - His exact words: “I did Kick-Ass 2 a month b4 Sandy Hook and now in all good conscience I cannot support that level of violence… I am not ashamed of it but recent events have caused a change in my heart” [1][4].
- Writer Mark Millar publicly said he was “baffled” because nothing in the finished film wasn’t already in the script 18 months earlier and basically pointed out that a film called Kick-Ass 2 has to be violent [1][4].
- Behind the scenes, director Jeff Wadlow, Millar, Chloë Grace Moretz and Christopher Mintz‑Plasse reportedly felt Carrey’s stunt actually “did the film a favour” by giving it huge free publicity .
Too Dark Even for Kick-Ass?
- The comics are notoriously brutal, but the sequel still had material that freaked the filmmakers out. A gang rape from the comic and a scene involving a dog’s decapitated head were removed entirely from the movie because they went way too far for the tone Universal wanted [3].
- Mintz‑Plasse himself said the rape and dog-death material “really would have not been a good fit in the movie,” admitting the comic is “WAY more grim” than the film version [3].
On-Set Drama & Hurt Feelings
Chloë Grace Moretz’s Secret On-Set Tears
- In a 2017 interview, Moretz revealed that at 15, she was openly body‑shamed by an older male co‑star on a film set—widely linked by fans to this era of her career.
- The unnamed actor (in his “23, 24, or 25” range) told her, off‑camera, “I’d never date you in real life” and followed it with “Yeah, you’re too big for me”
. - She says it was “one of the only actors that ever made me cry on set,” and she had to go back to work and pretend he was her love interest while still shaking from the insult [2]. Her brother was reportedly furious when she told him [2].
- The article doesn’t name the guy, but fan detectives online very loudly connect the dots to Kick-Ass 2’s teen romance subplot—an unconfirmed, but persistent, fandom theory.
The Kiss Fans Can’t Unsee
- Online, viewers have since fixated on the ending kiss between Dave and Mindy. At the time of filming, Aaron Taylor‑Johnson was in his early 20s while Moretz was mid‑teens, and Reddit users gleefully (and horrifiedly) point out that “22yo Aaron Taylor Johnson” gropes a “15yr old Hit‑Girl” in that final moment
. - Layer on the real‑life 20‑plus‑year age gap between Taylor‑Johnson and his wife Sam (a topic he called people’s obsession with “bizarre” in 2013 ), and fans now rewatch that kiss with an extra dose of side‑eye [7][8].
Casting Shake-Ups & Behind-the-Scenes Power Plays
The Guardian Swap: Omari Out, Morris In
- Hit-Girl’s guardian Marcus quietly changed faces between films. Omari Hardwick, who played Marcus in the first movie, was replaced by Morris Chestnut in the sequel .
- Reports at the time framed it as a straight recast as Kick-Ass 2 “Balls to the Wall” locked in its ensemble—no public feud, just one of those “Hollywood decisions” that still annoyed continuity-obsessed fans [5].
Lionsgate Dumps the Franchise, Universal Picks It Up
- Another bit of off-screen drama: original Kick-Ass distributor Lionsgate passed on the sequel entirely, leaving Universal to swoop in and handle Kick-Ass 2 .
- Trade coverage framed it as a studio shake‑up—Lionsgate had picked up the first film after it was made independently, but balked at bankrolling the follow‑up, forcing Marv Films to shop it around [6]. It added a faint whiff of “damaged goods” gossip before cameras even rolled.
Romance Rumors & Aftermath Glow-Ups
Hit-Girl & the Beckham Heir
- A couple of years after Kick-Ass 2, Moretz’s love life became tabloid fodder when she started dating Brooklyn Beckham. The two began seeing each other around 2014 when she was 17 and he was 15, with their on‑again, off‑again saga dragging on until about 2018 .
- While there’s no evidence they met through Kick-Ass 2 directly, entertainment press and fan forums loved pairing “Hit‑Girl” with the Beckham brand and folding it into her post-Kick‑Ass fame narrative [10].
Franchise Regret & Reboot Shade
Matthew Vaughn Low-Key Drags Kick-Ass 2
- Original Kick-Ass director/producer Matthew Vaughn has never exactly wrapped Kick-Ass 2 in a warm hug. Years later, he openly acknowledged how much fans disliked the sequel and started talking about giving the world a new Kick‑Ass rather than continuing this version .
- One outlet summed up his attitude as knowing audiences didn’t like Kick-Ass 2 “so profoundly, so deeply, so rightly” [9]. When your own franchise godfather basically buries the sequel and calls for a hard reboot? That’s franchise-level shade.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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