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The Equalizer II
(Columbia Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
Got a problem? Odds against you? Call The Equalizer. The 2014 adaptation of the late-80s TV series may have underperformed at the box office, but the fan reaction must’ve been great enough to warrant a sequel. Now we have “The Equalizer II,” which offers plenty more slow-burn drama with entertaining scenes of fist fights and gunfire.
Between the superhero movies and the high-octane action films of the summer, this one might come off as “the little engine that could” of this year.
After taking care of a mission in Turkey, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) spends most of his days working as a Lyft driver, making friends with random patrons. But at night, he uses his set of skills from his experience as a government assassin to help solve the problems that ordinary folk couldn’t do. He also helps out a young teen named Miles (Ashton Sanders) struggling to make a life for himself after the death of his brother from a local gang. Ever so full of heart, he pays the teen to do some work around his apartment.
Tragedy strikes when McCall’s ex-boss Susan (Melissa Leo) is murdered in Brussels while she is investigating a supposed murder/suicide with his ex-partner York (Pedro Pascal). Robert investigates deeper, but he soon realizes that the murders are linked to his old team looking to tie up loose ends. He’ll soon use all his might to take on those responsible while protecting others including Miles, and Susan’s widowed husband, Brian (Bill Pullman).
Once again directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose previous collaborations with Washington includes “Training Day” and “The Magnificent Seven,” the sequel maintains all the elements from the first film. It starts off slow and never lets up, but rewards those with patience with some gritty and brutal moments of fight scenes and shootouts. While those who preferred wall-to-wall action will be left bored by this structure, but the director does a good job building up enough suspense to make the action scenes more satisfying. It also delivers another exciting climax that’s a bit reminiscent of “Skyfall,” but with wild weather adding to the intensity.
Though the sequel is mainly the first film again, this one does have more characterization which makes it feel a little more different. We get to see more of McCall’s past and his interactions with the people he helps. As mentioned before, you’re going to need a whole lot of patience if you want to go through this slow-burn thriller to get to the good parts. It helps to keep an open mind when you’re watching a movie like this.
For the first time in their careers, Washington and Fuqua each take part in a sequel, and that’s simply an achievement in its own way. The Oscar-winning actor once again plays the character with the right mix of charm, charisma, and intensity. It’s the kind of role made for such a talented actor like him. There are also some brief but good moments from both Leo and Pullman, while Sanders does a fine job acting opposite an acting legend.
Unless you’re a fan of the first film, you’re not going to get anything out of this sequel, which is more of the same. However, “The Equalizer II” still outdoes the original with its characters and action. If anything, this needs a third film to round out an otherwise pretty average trilogy.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for brutal violence throughout, language, and some drug content)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.25 Stars (Out of Four)
