Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sloppy, cartoonishly violent sequel fails to match original.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Red 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a mixed bag, with many enjoying its humor and action-packed sequences, though some feel it fails to match the quality of the original. The violence, while present and often cartoonish, is manageable for older kids, making it a decent option for family viewing, albeit with some reservations about the script and pacing.
- humor and action
- mixed reviews
- cartoonish violence
- family-friendly option
- weak script
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is now in a committed relationship with Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). He wants to keep her safe, but she longs for more adventure, and Frank's buddy Marvin (John Malkovich) tries to encourage him to liven things up. Sarah gets her wish with Frank and Marvin suddenly find themselves labeled as international terrorists, with top killers out to get them. These include old friends like Victoria (Helen Mirren), as well as the deadly Han Cho Bai (Byung-hun Lee) and Frank's old flame, Katja (Catherine Zeta-Jones). If our heroes can locate a secret weapon stashed somewhere in Russia, they can clear their names. But this effort depends on finding a scientist long thought to be dead, as well as avoiding gunfire everywhere they go.
Is It Any Good?
Following up 2010's successful and enjoyable Red, RED 2 has a new director and some fresh cast members, but overall the sense is of a general lack of care. The movie clearly doesn't have much going on, so director Dean Parisot moves things quickly in a vain effort to keep viewers from noticing. The plot jumps back and forth between major cities all over the world with little logic. The general rhythm also suffers, with great lurches and cheats all over the place. This subsequently affects the performances. Willis tries some aggravated double-takes that are cut short, and Parker's broad performance almost resembles an old-time comic drunk. Only Malkovich slides underneath the movie's messy fabric for some smooth one-liners. But perhaps most disturbing is Red 2's chaotic, cartoonish violence. No one here seems to care whether innocent people die as they go about their quest to save the world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Red 2's violence. Why is it so over the top? Does the humor that accompanies it affect its impact?
When Sarah makes her first kill, how does she react? What are the consequences of her actions?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? How does it portray older people? Are they intended to be role models?
How does this sequel compare to the original?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 19, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : November 26, 2013
- Cast : Bruce Willis , Helen Mirren , John Malkovich , Mary-Louise Parker
- Director : Dean Parisot
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Summit Entertainment
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 116 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : pervasive action and violence including frenetic gunplay, and for some language and drug material
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate