‘John Wick,’ 2014’s surprise sleeper
“hit” (get it?) which more than quadrupled its modest $20 million budget at the
box office about an assassin forced out of retirement to exact his brand of
one man vigilante justice against a Russian mob boss (reviewed here: link),
earns a much deserved sequel in ‘John Wick: Chapter 2.’ With a bigger budget (twice that of the
original) and a story that ups the ante for our titular anti-hero, JW2 promises
to be even bloodier and badass-ier than its predecessor. And boy, did it deliver the goods!
After leaving death and
destruction in his wake for the death of his beloved puppy, John Wick (Keanu
Reeves) recovered his vintage ’69 Ford Mustang (in a manner of speaking) and settled
down once again to the quiet and peaceful life of a retired legendary
international hitman, to be forgotten by the world and left alone. Of course, that was simply too much to
ask. This time an old “associate” calls
in a debt from his dark past, one which he is bound to honor, and he is thrust
back into the life he so desperately wanted to leave behind. In JW, we learned that there is a universal golden
rule punishable by death that must be followed by all assassins, and that is to
never conduct “business” at the Continental hotel. In JW2, we learn a second equally binding
law, and that is a “marker” must always be honored.
That’s part of what makes JW so
fascinating: Its unique world-building
and portrayal of a secret society of assassins amongst us, as outlandish and incredible
as it may seem. In JW2 we immerse
ourselves in this richly imagined universe even more to the level of near
absurdity (seemingly every other person may be an assassin!), but despite its
contemporary settings and “realism” we do not question it or roll our eyes in
give-me-a-break fashion because the mayhem and carnage inflicted throughout are
so bloody delicious and fun. ‘John Wick:
Chapter 3’ anyone?
Grade: A
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