Where to watch Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses
3 1/2 Stars
Frank Vega (Danny Trejo), the elder war veteran whose beating of a thug on public transportation went viral, has been living a peaceful life. Since the events in Bad Ass, Frank has continued his dream of opening a Community Center in a rough part of East Los Angeles. He now spends his days mentoring a slew of young boxers, dispensing lessons inside the ring and philosophy for life outside.
The corner liquor store serves as Frank’s grocery outlet, he is a regular customer and at odds with the ornery owner/cashier Bernie (Danny Glover). Turns out Bernie’s unpleasant disposition is due to his impending death from a rare form of stomach cancer. Frank and Bernie exchange rude words but they both continue doing business with one-another, in typical grumpy old men fashion.
Frank’s prized student, Manny, gets in over his head with a vicious drug dealer and his high-powered, politician nemesis, Leandro (Andrew Divoff). The boy is found murdered and Frank sets out to exact revenge on those responsible. Meanwhile he begins a love affair with the grieving mother, while acting as a surrogate father for her youngest daughter. Realizing that Frank is making trouble, Leandro orders the Community Center burnt down and Frank to be assassinated. In the process of arson the resulting explosion levels not only the gym but Bernie’s store as well. Now pissed off and with a life purpose, Frank and Bernie team up, to face one meaning henchmen after another on their way to taking out Leandro.
What can be said about Bad Ass 2, other than the necessary information that I was throughly entertained and laughed? The plot exists to be discarded, the characters are deliberately written as cartoons, the fight scenes are clearly doubles, and the dialogue is self-deprecating and referential. So it’s a dumb movie, at least it has the decency to be fun and brief.
Director: Craig Moss
Stars: Danny Trejo, Danny Glover, Andrew Divoff