Following on from the success of the first John Wick film, Chapter 2 sees the return of Keanu Reeves erstwhile assassin and immediately picks up where the first film left off.
Fans of the first film will remember the near non-stop action sequences, car chases and fist fights and the film-makers deliver it in spades in the sequel. After returning to his home after the events of the first film, Wick is visited by old acquaintance Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) who is a member of a crime family in Italy. D’Antonio reminds Wick of a “blood oath” he made in return for the Italian’s help in the past and requests that Wick assassinates his sister so that he can become leader of his family’s crime syndicate and part of a council of other gangsters. Though reluctant at first to come out of retirement again, the burning down of his house soon throws Wick back into action to do D’Antonio’s bidding against his will.
Though it doesn’t seem to have quite the same stylish design of the first instalment, Chapter 2 still makes a spirited effort to treat our eyes to some glamorous locations. From the opening scenes in New York we’re taken to Rome and into underground tunnels of the Italian capital city to create a gloomy maze in which John Wick does battle with various henchmen. The tables are soon turned well against him though as he finds himself the target of various other assassins after a contract is put out on his own life. Ian McShane returns as Manager of the Continental Hotel whilst Ruby Rose and Common make appearances as assassins in the employ of D’Antonio’s crime family. Chapter 2 also features the first time that Reeves and Laurence Fishburne (as “The Bowery King”) have worked onscreen together since The Matrix trilogy.
Keanu Reeves returns to his role of legendary hitman, John Wick
As far as these type of films go, JW: Chapter 2 isn’t bad and it’s not a particularly terrible sequel either. Yes, the fight choreographer is good and the action is entertaining but it does however beg the question of how many bad guys does the protagonist need to kill in order for the viewer to forget about any character and plot development?). It would be unfair of me to go watch a film like this and expect an emotional rollercoaster of a film (especially with someone like Keanu Reeves acting in it) but with the direction solely focussed on action there really is little time spent on anything else. Riccardo Scamarcio doesn’t feel particularly threatening as a villain and while the supporting cast of McShane, Rose and Common are entertaining the film does tend to drag a bit in terms of building tension like the first film did. There are some highlights including a fight in a Subway station where Wick manages to show off his skills with a pencil but by and large John Wick: Chapter 2 failed to hold my attention for its 2 hour run time. With a set up for a third film it looks like we may yet see more of Reeves’ gun-toting qualities in the future. I can only hope that the mixture of plot and action is more even next time round.
Author – Steve, Bristol store
