Review of John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) by Jack F — 23 Oct 2017

Don't you just love stupid people?

In 2014's "John Wick," the eponymous character, a legendary hitman capable of taking out a room full of men with only a pencil, came out of retirement in order to exact vengeance on the gangsters that wronged him, leaving nothing but bodies in his wake. He was nicknamed "The Boogeyman" during his day, and we could see why.

Now, in "John Wick: Chapter 2," another gangster comes along and forces John out of retirement yet again. And if that isn't enough, he then turns around and double-crosses him, attempting to have him killed.

Dude?seriously? Do you have a death wish? How stupid can you be?

Ah, but as stated above, I love stupid people?or this stupid one, at least. If not for his insanely idiotic choices, then we wouldn't have one gloriously entertaining sequel to a film that was gloriously entertaining itself.

The idiot in question is Santino (Riccardo Scamarcio), an Italian mobster who calls upon John (Keanu Reeves) for one last hit due to a debt that's owed. John, as you might recall, would like nothing more than to remain out of the game and live his life in peace, but damn it, these crime lords just won't let him. And when shit hits the fan yet again, Santino finds himself in John's crosshairs.

This leads to more outrageous action sequences featuring the "gun-fu" style of fighting seen in the first film. John is very fond of getting up close to an adversary, disabling him with some kind of fancy move like an arm bar, then shooting enemies in the vicinity before delivering a bullet to the head to the guy he'd already incapacitated. It's great fun to watch, if not a bit repetitive, only because it doesn't feel as fresh and exciting this time around.

But then you could also argue that returning director Chad Stahelski makes up for this by setting the action scenes in some interesting new locations. John gets into a close-quarters knife fight with a bodyguard (Common) on a subway ride. Or how about the extended shoot-outs in a series of catacombs or a hall of mirrors located in an art museum? This is some pretty badass, well-choreographed shit.

Throughout the craziness, Reeves remains a grounded center of unflappability. I mentioned in my review of the original film that this was the ideal role for him, and that opinion still stands. John Wick is a deadly man of few words, the kind of guy who's likely more at home breaking bones than making small talk at the grocery store. "Stiff" is almost a character trait you could use to describe him. I defy you to find a role that's better suited for Reeves' skills as an actor. He's shown before that he can handle action, and when he gets to look like a mean mother while doing so (and not speaking much), he's near perfect.

I also mentioned in my review of the first film that I loved the world it created, this world of assassins who apparently live by their own codes and rules. Of course we get another visit to the Continental, the hotel where hired guns hang out in between jobs, but in "John Wick: Chapter 2," we learn that there are Continentals all over the globe, and they all operate on one strict, unbreakable commandment: no "business" is to be conducted on hotel grounds. You spill blood, you're in trouble.

This movie also introduces the concept of a "Marker," a ritualistic object symbolizing a blood oath between two parties that cannot be broken. Basically it's a small medallion in which the person taking an oath pricks his/her thumb and smears blood on the inside. When the oath is complete, the other person pricks his/her own thumb and smears their blood, which seals the deal permanently. Breaking your word after giving a "Marker" to a person is a deeply serious offense, one that could have devastating consequences.

Probably the most interesting new concept in the movie is the network of homeless people throughout the city who actually serve as spies/assassins for a man known only as the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), a literal underground crime boss. This guy has eyes and ears everywhere, which allows him to monitor all the goings-on in the city from a distance. There could be a whole other movie made about him and his minions as it raises all sorts of tantalizing questions. (Do the mobsters in power in the city know about these people? What's the history between them and John? Were they actual homeless people who were recruited into this, or is that all just an act?) There's a plethora of possibilities there.

Perhaps this is something that will be explored in "Chapter 3," as there's reportedly a third movie in the works. If it's anything like these first two movies, I'll be impressed. Here's hoping there're more stupid people out there to piss John Wick off!