The Equalizer 2

The Equalizer 2

Starring Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

The Story:
Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) continues working for the little guy, using his particular skill set to beat up and kill bad guys in order to protect the good.  His friend Susan (Melissa Leo) works for the government, and while in Belgium working on a case, she's murdered.  This causes McCall to investigate, finding a conspiracy deeper than he imagined, and putting those he cares most about at risk.

The Synopsis:
55.  Denzel Washington has appeared in over fifty-five television shows and films, and never once did he sign up for a sequel.  He's one of the few actors in Hollywood who's never done a sequel, but no longer.  "The Equalizer 2" is Washington's first sequel, and you know for him to relent and appear in a sequel that the film had to be good, and it was.

Antoine Fuqua (who also has never directed a sequel) returns behind-the-camera as director, and brings his most powerful lead actor back to the role of Robert McCall, a mysterious man with an amazing skill set who can use a near sixth-sense ability to read the room and use whatever is around him as deadly weapons.  The first film saw McCall come out of retirement to help an underage prostitute receive revenge after she's beaten up by the Russian mafia.

This time, however, it's personal.

Despite being out of retirement and full on working to avenge the little guy (as the opening number on a train to Istanbul attests), McCall's main call in the film doesn't come from the elderly man who's looking for a lost painting, or a troubled youth who might fall into the world of gangs, but instead comes from the violent death of his only friend.  Melissa Leo (who's worked with Fuqua in the first film and also in "Olympus Has Fallen") works for the government, and while on assignment in Belgium she's murdered.  This causes McCall to hone in his senses to finding her killers, which of course hits closer to home than he would like.

The result is a sequel that's pretty much on par with the original, as the violence is again amped up for good measure (McCall once again uses his MacGuyver skills to use everyday items like a harpoon and credit card to dish out justice).  Like the original, the violence isn't used needlessly - McCall almost always offers a way out for the bad guy, and the violence is just a result of their choice.  Yet it's clearly the most exciting parts of the film, as we've already grown accustomed to these stylish, fast-paced action sequences.

Yet an action film is just an action film if you only focus on the action, and Washington again delivers a nuanced performance as Robert McCall.  While he moonlights as a trained assassin, he also has a compassionate heart as he searches for a painting for an old man who lost it during World War II, and dishes out harsh wisdom to a troubled teen to prevent him from joining a gang.  Yet, unlike the first film, these add-ons feel just like that - add-ons.  It's like you're playing a video game, and get distracted by side missions.  While the side-story involving troubled teen Miles (played by "Moonlight" star Ashton Sanders) helps lead to the film's main focus, it's the other story involving the stolen painting that feels tacked on - it wasn't really necessary, and seemed to only serve to add padding to the film - even though it wasn't needed.

An issue with sequels is that it becomes "been there done that," and "The Equalizer 2" is no exception.  While Fuqua uses the art of misdirection in the first film, we fully expect it here, and when it happens, it's not as surprising.  Also the film follows a typical pattern like the first, and it's easy to connect the dots to see where it all ends up.  It's not as surprising as it should be, but that's not fully the fault of the film itself - just the fact that it's a sequel, so we already know the pattern.

Still, despite this handicap, Washington still delivers a stunning performance, and the film is filled with intrigue, suspense, action, and heart that will keep you captivated from start to finish.

The Summary:
Denzel Washington is one of the best actors in the business, and for his first sequel, "The Equalizer 2" fully uses his acting abilities to perfection, delivering a film filled with drama, suspense, and action - even if it's somewhat familiar.

The Score: A