The Equalizer 2

The first Equalizer movie in 2014 certainly took its time jolting former covert operative Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) out of his post-faked-death inertia to become the avenging vigilante of the 1980s TV series that this franchise is based on.

The Equalizer 2 did not need to dwell on an “origin story”, so to speak, and so it could have gone off in so many interesting directions.

Too bad that most of its plot is still preoccupied with the lead character’s past.

In TV shows, that sort of episode – the one that takes the hero back to his roots/beginnings – usually comes well into a series’ run, not in its sophomore outing.

This sequel mostly has to do with a series of murders that involves important people from McCall’s past, including his former partner Dave York (Pedro Pascal). Worse, it strikes at people close to McCall, a circle so small that we should just leave it at that.

So, why didn’t this tale set my interest on fire?

Well, for one thing, it pokes around in revenge territory that Washington himself covered before (you know the movie), and so has almost every vigilante/revenge flick ever.

It’s like director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter Richard Wenk chose to ignore the reality – that the best parts of the original were the relationships and dynamics between McCall and the people he helped.

image: http://www1.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/str2_daequalizer2_2_mt.jpg

‘Killing bad guys and looking super-cool while doing it – what’s not to like about my job?’

Likewise, the best parts of TE2 are those that show McCall actually righting wrongs done to innocents, and helping troubled individuals – like steering street artist Miles (Ashton Sanders) away from drug dealers, or taking the trouble to listen to Holocaust survivor Sam (Orson Bean), whom everyone at his assisted-living facility thinks is senile.

These sub-plots – along with the opening sequence, set on a train, and another crunchy bit where some entitled rapists get various body parts realigned – as well as their resolutions are the parts of TE2 that give it its heart.

Not so the humdrum main plot, where the perpetrators don’t even appear to have satisfactory motivations – or even employers with faces, for that matter.

image: http://www1.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/str2_daequalizer2_2a_mt.jpg

‘Excuse the reluctant handshake – but after seeing you in the Kingsman sequel, I hope you’ll understand.’

Still, it does serve as an excuse for McCall to mete out some particular savage just deserts. However, they lack the impact they might have had if the film stayed focused on righting wrongs done to innocents.

The sequel also benefits more than it deserves from Washington’s terrific performance, where he is equally adept at being both calming presence/guiding light and ruthless agent of vengeance.

Though, as another famous cinematic vengeance-taker once said, deserve’s got nuthin’ to do with it.

So TE2 and we cinemagoers should simply count our blessings to have this compassionate, resourceful avenger (and a lead actor who has settled so assuredly into the role) who overcomes not only every adversity, but even mediocre material too.

Catch this movie at Golden Screen Cinemas nationwide. Follow GSC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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The Equalizer 2

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders, Orson Bean, Sakina Jaffrey, Jonathan Scarfe