Today’s quick review: John Wick: Chapter 2. Legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) only wants to retire. But when his old associate Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) calls in a favor, John is unable to refuse. His task is to eliminate Santino’s sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini) so Santino can claim her seat at the High Table, a ring of underworld elites. But to complete the mission, John must risk becoming tangled even deeper in the life he tried to leave.
John Wick: Chapter 2 is a stylish, well-paced action movie with an intriguing world and inventive combat. Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick, a hitman who left the business for his wife, now dead of cancer. His brief return to killing in the first movie was driven by revenge, cutting a bloody swath through the Russian mob and causing ripples that continue into the second installment. John was lucky to get out the first time, and the second time may prove impossible.
The second John Wick film continues to innovate in the action department. John plows through his enemies using a unique mixture of grappling and close-quarters gunplay. The combat is crisp and efficient, perfectly matching the detached, professional tone of the world. The stunts are subtly clever, from John’s elaborate takedowns to his improvised weaponry. This steady drip of creativity sets the action apart from the typical fare for the genre.
The setting of John Wick: Chapter 2 continues to impress. The world of John Wick exists parallel to and separate from everyday life. The assassins have a culture of their own, built on old-world rules and style as well as a healthy dose of professionalism. They enjoy a rich, underground network of resources centered around the Continental, a luxurious hotel chain that offers accommodation and neutral ground to its shadowy clientele.
Against this backdrop, John Wick himself stands out as a near-mythical figure. John Wick is treated as a harbinger of death by the other characters in the movie, and he lives up to this lofty reputation by routinely pulling off the impossible with tenacity and aplomb. The John Wick movies are rare ones that can actually back their hype with execution. John Wick achieves the aura of coolness that other action movies dream of and makes it look effortless.
As with the first movie, John Wick: Chapter 2 makes a few tradeoffs. The sequel scraps the slow, deliberate build-up of the first film in favor of an action-packed introduction that wraps up a few loose ends from the previous movie. The plot is personal but less emotional, more a particularly grueling job than a tale of revenge. The sequel’s additions to the universe are all perfectly welcome, while the combat is even more impressive than the first’s.
Watch John Wick: Chapter 2 if you are any sort of action fan. The sleek, stylish, and violent side of the action genre has rarely been executed so cleanly. The first film is recommended but not required viewing; the sequel stands on its own but spoils the events of the first movie at a high level.
8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 to 8.5 for crisp, stylish action and excellent atmosphere.