As for my two cents on Affleck, I'd like to find that casting director and set them on fire, with this clip playing on a loop in the background:
But I'm here to talk about Kick-Ass 2, and the general concepts and ideas in the larger superhero mythos. Not so much a review as a statement; this film is properly brilliant - emotive, exciting and resonant in all the right ways and I highly recommend it.
Kick-Ass 2 is an extremely aptly titled movie in that it is not only a kickass adventure, but also the second film in the franchise. I'd argue that this is one of those rare sequels that out-does the first installment on almost every level.
The basic premise is that Dave Lizewski's antics as real-world superhero Kick-Ass have inspired a few like-minded folk to don their hero costume in an attempt to make the world a better place. Inevitably, this leads to superhero team ups and the formation of the world's first band of super villains, whose goal is essentially to really screw things up for everyone but themselves. With a name like The Toxic Mega-Cunts, you know they're either completely mental, or completely pathetic. And, in a direct parallel to real world villainy, it's an excellent combination of both that make team evil seem grounded and convincing - for the most part, at least.
The most controversial character from the first movie, Hit Girl - aka Mindy McCready, is back and struggling to lead a normal life after the slightly unconventional upbringing at the hands of her superhero father Big Daddy. This is the real core of the movie, the crisis of conflict that arises from being a crime fighting hero and that of leading a 'normal' life.
I found this to be an excellent thinking point - Hit Girl struggles hugely with the idea of who the 'real' Mindy is. Is it the highschooler desperately searching for acceptance with the cool kids, or the violent, foul-mouthed costumed vigilante?
In all our lives, we wear many masks and many faces - I can gaurantee that your relationships with your best friend, your boss and your significant other all vary drastically. Your online dating profile is your sales pitch, but it's not the same as your curriculum vitae. Likewise, how you chose to present yourself through the various layers of anonymity afforded to you online each offer a different opportunity to present yourself as a certain image.
The idea of our true self is of course influenced by countless external factors, be it a particular role model or the opinions of our peers. Superheros provide a particularly interesting influence, with all the usual noble traits like fighting for justice and assisting those in need being the most overt characteristics that come to mind. Ben Parker's own "With great power comes great responsibility" is one of the most well known superhero mantras and it serves as a wise warning not just to arachnid-powered mutants, but to anyone in any position of responsibility. There's always a code, a duty or ideal that heroes need to uphold and that usually drives plenty of dilemmas for good-guy or gal in question.
The obvious link here is that we're all heroes, and we all have to make decisions throughout our lives that can shape our character for better or worse. But the point is that we have a choice in who we wish ourselves to be. Me? I'm a taekwon-do practicing, snowboarding instructing, overly empathetic, passionate geek who absolutely struggles with the idea of which of those personas is my true self. The obvious answer is that it's all of them. Just because I do different things for different reasons or act differently with different people doesn't mean my 'core' self is lessened or corrupted in some way. Would I love to be a superhero? Damn right I would, but every time I put my taekwon-do gear on, I feel like one. It's just that this is something I get to do without all the wanton destruction, gross collateral damage and murdered parents (which is a bonus, as far as I'm concerned). But that's why we have comics, books, movies and videogames - so we can project ourselves onto an avatar of our choosing and imagine what it would be like the act out those fantasies without the real-life murdered parents and destroyed cities.
Kick-Ass 2 ends on the breakup of the super-groups because real world vigilantism is generally frowned upon and has drastic and server consequences. But the final message of the movie is that the heroes aren't always the guys in costumes. The superhero in everyone is the person who sacrifices themselves for the sake of others, whether it's to run after a mugger, or to give poor mal-adjusted Mindy her first kiss, the hero is the person who puts their goals and desires second for the benefit of others.
Unless you're Batman, in which case you have some seriously messed up revenge issues and should probably seek help in ways other than brutally punishing the criminals in your city.
Heroes are wherever you find them. A perfectly timed shoulder to cry on, or a perfectly timed chainsaw through the neck of an alien invader. The person who swaps shifts with you at work so you can do whatever it is you wanted to do, or the friend who visits you in hospital - just make sure you don't become a bitter and twisted individual and end up like Kick-Ass 2's nemesis, The Motherfucker.
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