THE EQUALIZER 2 ■ Equally forgettable
There are many movies that don’t really deserve sequels and, for me, THE EQUALIZER was one of those. The 2014 movie was a big-screen adaptation of a 1985 TV series. While I’m unfamiliar with the series, the biggest problem with original movie is it feels like THE PUNISHER-lite. Hell, even the name seems as though it’s riffing off Marvel’s infamous antihero.
While the 2014 movie had some original action sequences in its pro column, it was hard to shake the reality that it felt like a Punisher knock-off. Plus it was too long. The sequel suffers from the same running-time bloat.
Then there are the odd inclusions that seemingly go nowhere. Returning director Antoine Fuqua reintroduces the SHERLOCK HOLMES-lite fight precognition and wristwatch gimmick of the original, only to ditch it soon after.
Similarly, there are subplot characters that serve little purpose and the baddie reveal is obvious almost immediately. The action sequences feel lazier and, really, it’s only the strong performances of the ever-reliable Denzel Washington and unfortunately underused Melissa Leo that help lift the material beyond boring.
In fairness, I wasn’t a fan of THE EQUALIZER so the chances are good that if you are, THE EQUALIZER 2 will be a better balanced experience for you. For everyone else, though, there’s very little to enjoy in THE EQUALIZER 2, including the mostly by-the-numbers action sequences. Go watch JOHN WICK 2 instead.
