John Wick, having returned to the underworld to get revenge after his dog was killed and his car stolen, is reluctantly forced to honour an old debt, one that puts a large bounty on his head...
What should a sequel do? It's a question a number of follow-ups to others films often fail. Most, simply repeat what the first film did, often with bigger explosions and action set pieces and often without really thinking of what the story should be. That's not to say that sequels like that can't be good ones, far from it. But the best sequels are ones that use the first film and then expand the story out, often adding deeper layers to what has gone before. One of the best in recent years, The Raid 2, took the simple story of the first one and turned it into something deeper and richer.
John Wick Chapter 2 does something similar.
This new film picks up pretty much where the first one ended (not for nothing is this Chapter 2 rather than simply John Wick 2), which is essentially an epilogue to the first film. Once John returns home after recovering his car, only then does the new story begin, when an old acquaintance of John's, Santino, shows up, wanting him to repay his blood debt. When Wick refuses, Santino destroys his home forcing Wick to carry out the assignment. This, of course harks back to warnings from Winston, owner of the Continental hotel, used by the underground, to Wick about the dangers of returning.
Once Wick carries out the mission the film basically becomes almost a video game with long takes of Wick beating, shooting, stabbing and killing anyone who gets in his way. The action here, like in the first one is brutal at times, but director Chad Stahelski, who co-directed the first film, has a background as a stuntman and knows how to stage and film the action very well indeed.
The cast are pretty good. Keanu Reeves is great as John Wick once more, easily handling the action well. Ian McShane and Franco Nero have smaller roles but are great as the managers of their hotels. Common plays a colleague/rival of Wick's who is out for revenge. Lance Reddick returns as the receptionist of the hotel. Riccardo Scamarcio plays Santino and Ruby Rose plays Ares, his bodyguard, while there is a Matrix reunion of sorts as Laurence Fishburne turns up as the Bowery King.The whole cast is first rate.
Like the first film, this one is written by Derek Kolstad. While the story is good, the film is at its best as it delves deeper into the underground world. Like The Raid 2, or even Hostel Part II, this adds a richness to the film and at times is more interesting than the action.
The one issue I have with this Chapter 2, is that it lacks the fun aspect the first was. It's still a well made film, the action exciting right down to the ending, but that lack of the fun aspect does make the violence feel too repetitive at moments. I suspect part of that is down to how surprising the first was, but also in the reason for Wick's revenge. In the first it seems a minor issue, the death of his dog. Here, it is more of a cliche, but it still does work. However, we do finally get to see how good Wick is with a pencil!
But the lack of fun doesn't detract totally from the film. I liked it a great deal and the ending, leaving it open for a Chapter 3 is one that I don't mind.
For if they can keep this quality of action and story, then I for one look forward to the next instalment.
Rating - 4/5
No comments:
Post a Comment