KICKASS 2 trailor and news.

The Bottom Line

Sequel offers exactly the blend of R-rated nastiness and candy-colored action fans expect.

Opens

Friday, Aug. 16 (Universal Pictures)

Cast

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Grace Moretz, Clark Duke, Morris Chestnut, Donald Faison, John Leguizamo, Jim Carrey

Director-Screenwriter

Jeff Wadlow

Real-world(ish) teen crime fighters are back in Kick-Ass 2, a sequel that responds to controversy by doubling down on both the violence and the unexpected streak of nastiness that troubled some viewers the first time around. Batons are passed -- from director Matthew Vaughn to newcomerJeff Wadlow; from Nicolas Cage to this episode's marquee-worthy ringer Jim Carrey -- for an outing in which first-film scene-stealer Chloe Grace Moretz is as much a protagonist as the titular hero played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The film delivers almost exactly what fans of the first installment are hoping for, and should perform accordingly at the box office.