Review of The Equalizer 2 (2018) by Compi24 — 11 Oct 2020

There are scrub leading men, there are average leading men, there are A-list leading men and then there's Denzel Washington. Regardless of the director, screenplay or supporting cast, the guy simply elevates every project he's associated with to — at the very least — par.

I've yet to see a truly unenjoyable movie with him at the forefront. "The Equalizer 2" is no different. As an admitted fan of the first film, I can't say I wasn't excited to see him re-team with Antoine Fuqua for a follow-up.

And, while it's nowhere near as much of a pleasant surprise as the first installment, it's still thoroughly entertaining. The action is helmed with unsurprising vigor, once again proving Fuqua's innate understanding of how to craft a good set piece.

It's the screenplay, however, that sadly brings up the rear this time around, what with its inability to truly replicate that same sort of novelty and creativity I enjoyed so much about the first film.

There are some decent little flourishes to the narrative here and there (namely the way that a few scenes are staged and also one particular subplot involving "Moonlight" standout Ashton Sanders) but you're really only here to see Denzel kick all sorts of ass.

I'm just disappointed that this fact is a tad more overt now than it was in 2014.