John Wick: Chapter 2 - movie review
John Wick: Chapter 2
Plot: After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane
Director: Chad Stahelski
Certificate: 15 (strong violence, gory images, suicide scene, language)
Runtime: 2hrs 2 mins
Release Date: Friday 17th February 2017
John Wick. A name that strikes fear into any criminals heart and worry for fellow action directors. The first film sparked an underground phenomenon with it relaunching Keanu Reeves' career and catapulting its directors into recognised names for all film buffs. So much so, the two of them helped direct the choreography for Captain America: Civil War. However, their loyalties remain the same and all three were entirely focused on telling more of John Wick's story and expanding this, already, extensive universe.
Identical to his first round as Wick, this is Keanu's best role of his fairly eventful and popular career. John Wick is by no means the most expressive of human beings so the film plays to Keanu's strengths - shooting, stabbing and punching someone until they bleed profusely. Wick is the physical embodiment of a Call of Duty veteran with every single shot he takes being a kill-shot. The day Wick misses his target is the day our world swallows itself whole. In the sequel, Wick doesn't even get a chance to breathe because it follows almost directly on from the first. At this stage, we know all we need to about John Wick so Reeves might as well tell the audience to buckle up and enjoy the thrill ride. His performance isn't reaching ultimate heights and breaking new ground in regards to an action hero but Wick is an easy character to root for and Reeves' likeability drives our support forward. Wick is a little more focused and sophisticated this time round as his journey involves assigned missions and covert revenge tales. But one thing still remains - John Wick kicks an unbelievable amount of ass, probably even more than he did previously, and it is beautiful to watch. Seeing Wick kill a group of thugs is artistic. Wick is like Jackson Pollock and bullets are his paintbrushes. In Nyqvist's place, to be the object of Wick's anger, is Riccardo Scamarcio who plays a criminal boss with the most Italian sounding name ever - Santino D'Antonio. Nyqvist made for a great villain and Scamarcio attempts to follow in his predecessor's shadow but alas, Santino acts like a middle of the road Bond villain. His motives for involving himself with Wick are warranted but Scamarcio plays a typical and clichéd mob boss who has a bone to pick with everyone who ever said no to him. He wasn't bad in the role but with Nyqvist setting the bar high, Santino made for an underwhelming antagonist.
Returning in a more extended appearance, Ian McShane as Winston is just as charismatic as ever. One of my issues with the first John Wick was that the entirety of The Continental plotline, whilst effective and enjoyable, felt disjointed to Wick's puppy revenge. Fortunately, these problems have been mostly fixed as McShane's hotel is frequently involved and has a much larger presence. McShane can do no wrong in these sorts of roles and it would be great to see him appear in many more franchises where he can dominate. Also working at the hotel is Lance Reddick, whom I failed to mention in my review for the first John Wick. He is the coolest, straightforward and downright likeable concierges in film history. Reddick wants to make me stay at The Continental even though I'd be sharing a floor with gun-wielding maniacs. But with a John Wick film comes adversaries for Wick to battle and two of considerable note are Ruby Rose and Common. Whoever decided to cast Rose as a mute assassin knows exactly what they're doing. It means that we are spared listening to her try delivering dialogue and only have to watch her bizarre facial expressions. But at least her inclusion in the film means we get to see Keanu Reeves fight Justin Bieber. Common was actually pretty good in the film as his role is also whittled down to minor dialogue and more focus on performing in the fight scenes. Him and Reeves share some remarkable confrontations, one of which attempts to emulate the legendary Raid 2. Closing out the cast rundown is Laurence Fishburne as a character who ultimately, doesn't serve the greatest purpose as he's simply getting Wick from point A to point B, but his appearance is very satisfying. Most of all, he hasn't lost the chemistry with Matrix co-star Reeves. I'm beginning to believe that Fishburne was only in this film to have that reunion. If Carrie Anne-Moss is cast in John Wick 3, we know this is just Reeves wanting to work with all of his friends again. Also, keep a keen eye out for the acclaimed Franco Nero.
FACT: In a brief moment, the game character Wolf from Payday can be seen in a poster of a background. This is a collaboration since John Wick is also featured as a playable character in the game Payday 2.
John Wick: Chapter 2 may be better than its antecedent but that doesn't make it immaculate. Chapter 2 does suffer from a considerable amount of flaws. To begin with, the pace isn't anywhere as rapid as the first was. We open with a blistering action scene that is arguably the best of the film, and then for about forty minutes, the film grinds to an almost halt, as Wick's history with Santino and the reason for his involvement is detailed and Wick begins his trip to Rome. That's forty minutes without a single gun being fired. Ten minutes I can handle but over half an hour and substituting that with a far-fetched and overly convoluted plot is a bad move. The trailers haven't really detailed what John Wick 2 is all about because, and quite rightly so, they marketed this film on the action scenes alone. The reason for no story revelations is that, in all honesty, it's too weak to positively sell in that way. The film is about Wick, who owed a debt to an Italian mob boss via a Marker (seemingly ripped out of a Pirates Of The Caribbean film) and then, through a series of events and countless gun blasts, everyone is turning against him. As far as stories are concerned, John Wick 2 is clutching at straws to hold it all together. It may falter with the writing, but it excels in Stahelski's direction and all, I do mean ALL, of the action scenes. I thought that the first John Wick often had a feeling of monotony as the film drew to a close but the sequel throws some new splashes of violence in there. John Wick lacked memorable fight scenes that stuck with me aside from the nightclub. In the sequel, we get an opening car chase, a train fight, catacomb conflicts, many polite exchanges of bullets and finally, John Wick is handed a pencil to dish out justice. Cinematically, the most alluring of the fight scenes in John Wick 2 is its climactic shootout in a mirrored maze. The cinematography is also something that has drastically improved. It was never bad to begin with but this film contains stunning shots of Keanu driving a doorless car, one shot takes of Wick taking on dozen of foes and come the mirror maze, it's nothing short of stunning. The score is also tremendously better. Gone are the annoying and awfully placed techno/dubstep beats and instead, we get an actual score that compliments the on-screen action. As for the ending, it sets up a future film is this now franchise, beautifully and leaves me craving for more.
A violent and Americanised Bond with a pinch of Kingsman class, John Wick: Chapter 2 is definitely a step up from its initial venture. Keanu Reeves still remains one of Hollywood's best action stars and consider, aspiring stuntmen, to follow in these footsteps. Sadly, Chapter 2 struggles with its entire narrative. It's messy, clumsy and ultimately, quite a letdown amongst the frenetic and outstanding fight choreography. See it, but just for the badassery.
My Verdict: 7/10
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