2014’s
ultra-violent ‘The Equalizer’ was a full-blooded (pun intended) action thriller
in the tradition of macho B-movies from the ‘70’s and ‘80’s starring Charles
Bronson, Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone.
That didn’t happen by accident, as the film itself was based on a
mid-80’s TV show by the same name about a cloak-and-dagger “fixer” who took it
upon himself to right wrongs, redress injustices and give the bad guys their
just desserts. Despite being panned by
the critics for the most part, ‘The Equalizer’ nonetheless made nearly $200
million worldwide, proving that the charismatic Denzel Washington can still
carry a movie no matter how weak it is in other respects.
In
‘The Equalizer 2,’ Denzel’s low-key and unassuming retired CIA operative Robert
McCall is once again mc-called (pun intended) upon to use his “very particular
set of skills” to help those who can’t help themselves. After a jaunt in Turkey to reunite a mother
with her young daughter, McCall was ready to settle down in semi-retirement as
a part-time Lyft driver and indulge in the simple pleasures of life, such as
reading a good book (as any decent ex-CIA wet works specialist should do). Alas, things don’t go as planned and he is
drawn yet again into his dark past after a close friend and former colleague
was murdered in Europe.
Like
its predecessor, EQ2 doesn’t offer much in the way of plot or character
development, but that’s okay because otherwise it would just be
pretentious. EQ2 doesn’t apologize (or
need to apologize) for what it is: a brutal no-holds-barred revenge flick that
doesn’t shy away from a copious amount of carnage and mayhem. Sure-handed veteran director Antoine Fuqua
has worked with Denzel since ‘Training Day’ and is one of the best directors in
the genre today, and Denzel is equally (pun intended, again) comfortable in a
role he’s familiar with in earlier films such as not only EQ1 but ‘Safe House’
and ‘Man on Fire.’ Granted, EQ2 is little
different from a Steven Seagal movie, but Denzel has more gravitas on his pinky
finger and, besides, who wouldn’t want to see a black guy wasting white guys
for a change?
Grade: B
Grade: B
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