Kick-Ass 2 is loud, offensive and very violent. It’s louder, more offensive and even more violent than its 2010 predecessor but not nearly as effective. Regardless of this sequel’s slight inferiority to the original, it still pushes a lot of buttons and manages to be a fun, blood-soaked time at the movies.

Writer-director Jeff Wadlow takes the reigns from the original’s combo of director Matthew Vaughn and writer Jane Goldman (they only return as producers) and the result isn’t the train-wreck some might have expected. One of the positives is that this new film follows Mark Millar’s comic book of the same name but only up to a point. The sex and violence that made the film’s final cut miraculously received an R-rating, so to include Millar’s excised scenes from the original manuscript would ensure Kick-Ass 2 a harsher rating to say the least.

Returning players for this sequel include leads Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular Kick-Ass and Chloe Grace Moretz as the controversial young assassin Hit-Girl. These are their superhero pseudonyms within the film’s grungy and violent world and as the story begins, we learn that due to the events in the original movie, there are more and more real-life citizens also dressing up in costume to protect their city.

With more superheroes come more super-villains, and Kick-Ass 2 spins off an ally from the first film into the antagonist for the sequel. He calls himself The Motherfucker, and as played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse, he delivers just the right amount of sleaze and whiny entitlement to make us root for his dissolution.

Related: Hypable goes one-on-one with Christopher Mintz-Plasse on Kick-Ass 2.

While the original film relied more on heart to drive its story forward with a touch of shock value in the background, Kick-Ass 2 gets things done in the opposite fashion. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but after a while, seeing so much blood and hacked limbs starts to feel repetitive. But this is where the character work comes in to save the day. Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl and The Motherfucker may be the stars of the show but it’s the supporting players that really bring Kick-Ass 2 to life.

Jim Carrey in particular does some of his best work in years as an ex-mob enforcer psychotically dispensing his own unique brand of justice. He doesn’t have many scenes, but when he’s onscreen, Kick-Ass 2 flows with a natural rhythm that rivals the original film.

Many movies this summer have promised full-blown entertainment and many have failed. Kick-Ass 2 isn’t perfect, but it does deliver on its mission statement of R-rated gore and shock value. This film is not for the easily offended, but for those of you who can roll with fun, brainless entertainment, this is a good way to end your summer.

Grade: B

Rated: R (for strong violence, pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and brief nudity)

Kick-Ass 2 opens in theaters on August 16.