Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		1.5

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses Blu-ray Movie Review

Bad hardly begins to describe this mess.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 16, 2014

One one level, it’s probably at least tolerable that a film like Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses got made, for it proves there are still roles for actors of a certain age, even if they’re not big enough action stars to warrant appearances in a franchise like The Expendables. On just about every other level, though, Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses is a lamentable enterprise, a shoddy direct to video sequel of sorts to 2012’s Bad Ass that once again offers Danny Trejo as ruffian Frank Vega, ostensibly based on internet meme Epic Beard Man.

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses is a revenge drama at its most basic, as Frank sets out to avenge the murder of a kid who had been getting boxing lessons at a gym Frank had opened. Frank soon joins up with another elderly denizen of the neighborhood, Bernie (Danny Glover), a guy who doesn’t like to go out but who nonetheless turns out to have a mean way with a hockey stick when it’s needed. The story lumbers along in a predictably rote manner, with Frank and Bernie trying to bring some evil drug traffickers to justice while at the same time putting an innocent bystander at risk. The film manages to coast—if just barely—on the combined charisma of Trejo and Glover, both of whom put enough effort into this pretty lame exercise to suggest they didn’t see it as only a quick way to make a buck.

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. As lame as this feature is, its video presentation is surprisingly strong, with a generally impeccably sharp and well detailed picture that reveals abundant fine detail, including every crag and crevice in Trejo's face. Contrast is just slightly variable, especially in some nighttime scenes, but colors are very accurate looking and nicely saturated. There are no problems with artifacts in this very pleasing high definition presentation.

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses features a serviceable but largely front-centric DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that rather surprisingly doesn't erupt into overwhelming immersion even in the action sequences. What's here is presented cleanly and clearly with excellent fidelity, but those who are expecting a sonic wonderland will probably be at least a little disappointed in how restrained this mix is.

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Making of Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses (1080p; 9:58)

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Trejo seems more than happy to move from low budget outing to low budget outing, but Glover is either slumming it with this picture or sadly has no other worthwhile prospects. The good news is these two performers work very well together, and what little interest this film manages to generate stems almost solely from their onscreen charisma, charisma which is sadly unsupported by the script or direction. Technical merits of this Blu-ray are nonetheless very strong.