The document provides an analysis of the 2013 film Kick Ass 2. It summarizes that the film is a sequel based on comic books, directed by Jeff Wadlow and co-produced by Matthew Vaughn. It mixes genres as a superhero, action comedy and takes a blackly humorous approach to violence and death. The film also pays homage and imitation to other well-known superhero franchises through characters and themes.

2. About the film…
• Kick Ass 2 (2013) is the sequel to the first film
Kick Ass (2010). It is an British-American
superhero, action comedy based on the comic
book of the same name and Hit-Girl, both by
Mark Millar and John Romita.
• The film was written and directed by Jeff
Wadlow and co-produced by Matthew
Vaughn.

3. Black humour/flattening affect
• The film is all about killing enemies and
fighting crimes. It takes death and puts a
humorous twist on it, even though some
methods of killing are as gruesome as they get
i.e. via decapitating.
Even Jim Carrey wanted to
distance himself from the
film due to its high level of
violence.

4. Hybrid of genres
• The film itself is described as a BritishAmerican superhero, action comedy. This
illustrates the mix of genres that are in the
film without even watching it.

5. Pastiche/homage
• The film is based on the comic book with the
same name and also the comic ‘Hit Girl’ which
is on the protagonists in the film.
• It is imitating the comic in a celebratory way
via film.

6. Nostalgia
• Kick Ass/2 both playfully take the mick/ imitate in a humours way other
super heros like Batman, Spiderman and Superman.
• For example, there is a villan named ‘Motherfucker’ after he killed his
mum, and then creates a group of villains whose names start with
‘Mother…’ e.g. Mother Russia. This in turn illustrates how Kick Ass is full of
black humour, basically taking pride in death and killing others. Another
super hero/villian is called ‘night bitch’.

7. Simulacra
•
Jean Baudrillard proposed the theory of simulacra. He proposed that Simulacra are
copies that depict things that either had no reality to begin with, or that no longer
have an original. Kick Ass/2 is a copy of superhero movies and the superheroes
themselves. There are so many Superhero movies made that there is no longer any
originality in them. This apply’s to Kick Ass which has once again recycled the idea
of Superheroes fighting villians and saving the world. This portrays that there is no
such originality in the media anymore.
In Kick Ass. Hit
Girl and her Dad
– The real life
Batman and
Robin?