Extra cinema: Kick-Ass 2 (15)

Undated Film Still Handout from Kick-Ass 2. Pictured: AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON as Dave Lizewski and CHLOE MORETZ as Mindy Macready. See PA Feature FILM Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/UPI Media. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Film Reviews.

Director: Jeff Wadlow

KICK-Ass and Hit-Girl are back for more action in Mark Millar’s comic book sequel, which packs more of a punch than the first film.

This follow-up to the 2010 movie is amped up with darker humour, more swearing and more violence.

Set four years after Kick-Ass, our favourite characters have grown up. Now 18 and close to finishing high school, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is keen to bring his green Kick-Ass suit out of the closet, while Mindy McCready (Chloe Grace Moretz), is being urged to forget her superhero sideline as Hit-Girl and fit in and be a normal teenager, following the death of her father Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage).

After Dave enlists the help of buddy Marty (Clark Duke), he finds Justice Forever, a group of vigilantes run by ex-mobster Colonel Stars And Stripes (Jim Carrey).

Baddie Chris D’Amico (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) vows vengeance on Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl for his father’s death.

While he gathers his evil gang, Mindy tries to deal with high school life — trying to fit in with the cool group and the cheerleading squad.

Fans will be glad that Kick-Ass 2 is a faithful sequel, although some of the darker references in the comic book have been taken out, following shooting tragedies in Aurora, and Sandy Hook.

With some unforgettable one-liners underpinned with dark humour, this movie is definitely more ass-kicking than ass-licking.

Rating: 8/10