Film Review - The Equalizer 2 (15)

They're going to war with me.

2014's The Equalizer was a big-screen adaptation of the '80s TV show starring Edward Woodward as private detective Robert McCall. A major presence is required to fill the Woodward shoes and Denzel Washington proved a perfect fit with his natural compassion and air of contained ruthlessness. His McCall was a retired government operative with a dark and violent past, content to work a regular job and relax reading Hemingway in his favourite diner - until a threat to someone he cared about drew him into a new role as righter-of-wrongs. Now when the innocent and vulnerable are threatened, he restores balance (or 'equalises'). 

The first film was a pacy, workmanlike thriller that made good use of its star. In this rather meandering sequel McCall is working as a Boston cabbie, a job that fits around his new calling as a benevolent vigilante. He's blending into his blue-collar community, trying to keep a young would-be artist (Moonlight's Ashton Sanders) on the straight and narrow and travelling far and wide to sort out business for his oppressed clients. But elsewhere crack assassins are plying a lethal trade, with his ex-senator pal (Melissa Leo) and one-time special ops partner (Game of Thrones' Pedro Pascal) both taking an interest. McCall lends his detective skills from afar, before brutal developments drag him in deep.

If the movie has deficiencies (and it does), it's not the fault of its star. Even in a standard genre movie like this Washington exhibits the same degree of intensity as he did in Glory or Malcolm X, never more so than in the quiet moments. There's depth of friendship with the few buddies he has, a touching paternal quality with artist Miles and an utterly convincing switch into lethal mode - where you sense he could break all your bones without breaking a sweat. The best scenes are those he shares with the lad, whether cajoling him to pursue his gift or taking him grimly to task over the lure of a criminal lifestyle. It's utterly believable stuff - coming straight from the gut and showing itself in those transfixing eyes. 

The issues lie elsewhere in both plotting and pacing. This follow-up delves into McCall's past, but does so in a way that mimics too many story beats of the first film; it even leads to a showdown that for all its evocative setting seems way too familiar. Twists are signposted and there's little is in the way of genuine surprise for a seasoned thriller fan. Various subplots stall the momentum to the point of sluggishness, with a resultant watering down of the drama. Yes there are a few sequences where the stakes register, but not enough for the story to prove compelling overall.

Sharing the original movie's writer and director, The Equalizer 2 is intermittently entertaining, but wastes opportunity to fully explore the ambiguities in McCall's character. He's attempting to redeem himself for unspecified crimes of the past, but doing so by subverting the law; it's an irony ripe for exploration but one that's largely bypassed. So if you're not going to wrestle with those issues, the least you can do is keep things whizzing along. Otherwise, despite your leading man's finest efforts, it all ends up a little bit dull and grey. 

Gut Reaction: Touching father-surrogate-son stuff and a few white-knuckle moments. But too much sitting and waiting for predictable things to happen.

Where Are the Women?: A few cameos, Leo's tough not-quite-retired politician being the most memorable.

Ed's Verdict: 6/10. Denzel never disappoints, and his rapport with Sanders would make for a great movie in itself. But ultimately this is a lacklustre sequel that doesn't attain the modest heights of the original.