Given that the original movie was so good, when we asked the question: can Kick Ass 2 possibly be better than the first?, we were asking a rhetorical question, or at least we thought we were. As it turns out, Kick Ass kicked Kick Ass 2’s ass.

Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl

Mark Miller – the creator of Kick Ass – even answered our then-rhetorical question. “Could 'Kick Ass 2' Be Even Better Than The First? Answer: YES... VERY VERY POSSIBLY!” he Tweeted in response to us, but alas, if the critics are doing their jobs properly, it’s not quite the film the original managed to be.

“’Kick-Ass 2’ is a lesser version of what it appears to be, an uncertain jumble rather than a true exploration of outrage, violence and identity,” say The Los Angeles Times.

But at least Hit Girl was a hit, right? Chloe Moretz was fantastic in the first and now, more mature, she’s built on her character, and is considered to be the best thing about the film. Hit Girl spin-off anyone? We’re game if Moretz is.

Click for the Kick Ass 2 extended redband trailer

“The film’s real talent was another masked crusader called Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz), a pint-size terror with the deadly reflexes of a ninja and the language of a Premiership footballer. You messed with her at your peril,” explained the Independent in their review.

Vulture reckon that “While Kick-Ass 2 does a decent job of replicating the look and feel of the original (as well as that of the Millar comics), it doesn't have the same urgency,” which sounds about right, considering the size of the reviews so far.

A 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes isn’t exactly what director Jeff Wadlow was looking for, especially compared to Kick Ass’s impressive 77%. The film’s already out, so go make your own mind up. Never know, you might like it.

Jim Carrey Kick Ass 2Not even Jim Carrey could save the movie from the reviewers