The Equalizer 2 movie review

Movie Title:  Equalizer 2

Grade:   C+

Rating: R, 129 minutes

In a Nutshell:   There is great satisfaction in watching someone kick bad guy butt in a vigilante action thriller.  This “Sequelizer” follows the original movie which came out in 2014.  Unfortunately, the first The Equalizer is better.  Denzel Washington is solid, as always. Who wouldn’t want a neighbor or friend like Robert?  A superhero who drives a Malibu.

 Tips for parents: 

• Super violent and bloody.  Two security guards were actually shot in real life during the filming.
• Profanity, including lots of F-bombs and the N-word.
• Denzel Washington’s character makes it seem OK to kill bad people.  That’s a slippery slope of morality, right?  Also disturbing is that he seems to take pleasure in his deeds this time around.

 Uplifting theme: 

• Friendship, loyalty.
• “You have a choice.  Make it while you’re still alive.” – Robert (Denzel Washington)
• Helping other people.
• Encouraging young people to step up in their lives.

Things I liked:

• Director Antoine Fuqua directed the first The Equalizer.  This is the first time he has directed a sequel to one of his own movies.  What’s amazing is that this is Denzel Washington’s very first sequel too!  This was their fourth film together.  Fuqua has already said he’d be interested in creating a third Equalizer.
• I’ve always liked Bill Pullman.  He and Melissa Leo were the only characters from the first The Equalizer movie to join Denzel in this sequel.
• There is not a lot of CGI, which is refreshing for superhero fatigued audiences.
• The scene during the hurricane had a Rambo feel to it.
• Ashton Sanders was great in Moonlight and stepped up to the plate again in this movie.
• “Why me?” – Miles

“Why not you?” – Robert

• Shout-out to Lyft.  One of my sons was an Uber driver one summer.  I have met some incredible

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s helpful, although not entirely necessary, to watch the first The Equalizer before you watch this one.
• Not much humor.  One thing that I really like about the Death Wish remake is that it throws some humor into the drama and action.
• It’s completely forgettable.  Sorry, Denzel.
• It’s a little slow-moving in the sense that it took a while for the various story pieces to fit together.

Interesting lines:

• “There are 2 kinds of pain in this world: pain that hurts, pain that alters.” – Robert McCall (Denzel Washington)
• “Anybody could do it, but nobody does.” – Robert
• “It takes talent to make money, but it takes brains to keep it.” – Robert
• “My grandmother says if you don’t remember somebody you love, you die twice.” – Miles (Ashton Sanders)
• Some good dialogue.

@trinaboice