The Equalizer 2
The Equalizer 2 is an equally stylish sequel to Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington’s action drama, but with fewer thrills and surprises.
In 2014 , director Antoine Fuqua and actor Denzel Washington reteamed for the first time in over a decade for the natural process thrillerThe Equalizer , having previously mold on 2001’sTraining daylight . InThe Equalizer , Washington starred as Robert McCall , a retire CIA Black Ops factor who used his skills to aid a miss escape from the Russian maffia . Between Fuqua ’s stylistic directorial efforts and Washington ’s dynamical public presentation , The Equalizerearned decent reviewsand inspired slew of fans who hoped to see Robert return for a sequel . Now , after working together again on 2016’sThe Magnificent Seven , Fuqua and Washington re - team forThe Equalizer 2.The Equalizer 2is an equally stylish sequel to Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington ’s action drama , but with fewer thrills and surprise .
After the events ofThe Equalizer , the sequel regain Robert McCall in his Modern normal . While he has n’t confronted the effect in his past tense that cause him to manipulate his own death and head a quieter life in Boston , Robert now works as a Lyft number one wood , taking odd jobs on the side for folks who ask assist from a human being with his particular curing of skills . alternatively of being completely removed from his past , Robert now walk a more delicate line between his life in Boston and putting his old skills to work for new the great unwashed . However , that changes when his old friend from the CIA , Susan Palmer ( Melissa Leo ) , is polish off , and the human being who orchestrate the attack come after both Susan ’s husband Brian ( Bill Pullman ) as well as Robert himself .
As Robert tries to unravel the mystery story of who murdered Susan with the help of an sometime friend , Dave York ( Pedro Pascal ) , he ’s also forge to mentor a young man in his building , Miles ( Ashton Sanders ) , who wants to become an artist . When the building they live in is vandalized , and the garden of fellow occupant Fatima ( Sakina Jaffrey ) is destroyed , Robert and Miles stress to unwrap the hurt . unluckily , the case Robert is working and the man responsible for Susan ’s slaying finally fascinate up to him , forcing Robert to face his past tense and the outcome that led him to seek out a unexampled life in Boston . But , even with all his skill at his disposition , it remains to be seen if Robert will be able the cross thwart his would - be killers , avenge Susan , and protect the people he cares about .
As a return actor - conductor duet , Fuqua and Washington wangle to nail a lot of what worked so well aboutThe Equalizerin its subsequence . There ’s plenty of the barbarous action that fan enjoy about the first celluloid and , sinceThe Equalizer 2picks up with Robert having reverted back to his violent ways , the sequel is able-bodied to polish off the ground run - though it slows down in the centre . Fuqua carries over the stylistic flourish ofThe Equalizer , utilizing the same method acting of showcasing Robert ’s punctilious nature in a conflict , but it is n’t expand upon . Other fashion flourishes are assay , but they can be jarring , like a few uses of over - the - shoulder camera shot that do n’t offer much to the action at law and bring an left over video game sense to the movie .
Further , beyond setting the fight sequence in some conceptually interesting locations , like a coastal town during a hurricane , the action can become repetitious . fundamentally , each conflict scene is Robert taking down his opponents one by one , especially in the climactic battle . However , after two movies , this line-‘em - up , knock-‘em - down way of structuring an action sequence becomes formulaic and lose the thrill gene . Fuqua and pass screenwriter Richard Wenk attempt to give more weight unit to the action inThe Equalizer 2by settle it in Robert ’s emotional arc , which plunk into his past times , but it never quite strike the right chord .
Instead , The Equalizer 2unsuccessfully tries to capitalize on the thin back story of Robert by plunge deep into his fibre , but attempts to walk the same line of defend back just enough to keep it interesting . Additionally , the mystery story of Susan ’s slaying arrange the sequel up for a turn reveal that will storm very few spectator . trust on that shock , rather than building up the ultimate baddie ofThe Equalizer 2means the continuation forfeit a necessary foil to Robert for really ground his action in any form of real emotional interest . Unfortunately , the result is what comes off as a poorly planned story meant to facilitate the activeness that makes picayune sentience if you think about it too much . Altogether , the action and chronicle are n’t enough to elevateThe Equalizer 2beyond a upstanding sequel that stay consistent with the style of its precursor .
WhereThe Equalizer 2doesn’t skimp is on showcasing Robert ’s humans , and Washington dextrously slips back into the role of a killer whale with a conscience . Robert ’s connections to those around him , even if they ’re superficial , assist to get a luck of heart toThe Equalizer 2 . Robert ’s relationship with Miles , which serves as a junior-grade game to the moving-picture show that may be more interesting than the main whodunit , provides a compelling emotional through line for the sequel . Certainly , this storyline ring the first moving picture , as Robert strain to mentor Miles and preclude the young man from becoming involved in a local gang so that he may pursue his ambition in the artistic creation . doubtless , it proves that Washington ’s performance as Robert works well when the character showcases his humanity by committing fierce enactment as a Good Shepherd , rather than as revenge - or as part of a half - baked endeavor at capitalizing on a backstory that was never very compelling or well - developed anyway .
finally , The Equalizer 2is a decent enough continuation toThe Equalizerthat may please fan of the original . Amid the PG-13 action spectacles that are distinctive of the summer movie time of year , the continuation stand apart and could extend moviegoers an entertaining R - rated thriller . However , with the story accept a big step down from the first film - which is mostly the result of the sequel ’s baddie just not being nearly as compelling or as well developed - and the action only at times as practiced , The Equalizer 2is by no means a must - see .
Trailer
The Equalizer 2is now playing in U.S. theaters . It runs 121 minutes and is rated R for brutal violence throughout , language and some drug capacity .
The Equalizer 2 is the follow - up moving-picture show to Antoine Fuqua ’s 2014 The Equalizer , starring Denzel Washington as Robert McCall . The sequel was released four years later and follows McCall as he seeks revenge after one of his tightlipped friends is murdered . The film was n’t as well obtain as the first motion-picture show but was still considered a worthy addition to the Equalizer franchise .
Melissa Leo and Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2
