John Wick: Chapter Two review

Director: Chad Stahelski

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Bridget Moynahan, Ian McShane, Ruby Rose, Peter Stormare, Peter Serafinowicz

Running Time: 122 Minutes

Rating: 15

Release Date: 17/02/17

The first JOHN WICK was a surprise success. Reinvigorating Keanu Reeves as an action hero and bringing life to a genre that had become clogged with the geriatrics of Neeson or Stallone. A sequel was inevitable and perhaps unnecessary but with the same creative team back again for this second chapter, it’s a great relief to say that this is what a sequel should be.

Building effortlessly on the fun world building of the first and expanding the central conceit of grieving man takes revenge on the murderers of his dog to exciting new levels. This isn’t some quickly put together sequel, this is a smartly thought out thriller with dashes of black humour, real wince-inducing, back braking action and an almost elegiac beauty in certain scenes.

I won’t give much away about the plot after the first act and the destruction of Wick’s house as penance for breaking a deal but what I will say is that there’re things in this film that make you sit up and rub your hands together in greedy anticipation.

John Wick 2

Despite a subdued and slightly dull first act things kick off around the mid-way point and barely pause for breath. The action is choreographed to perfection; this is probably one of the best western action franchises out there, and the style is glistening, neon-soaked vibrancy at its best.

The music is there to keep pace, even as it gets a respite during one on one fights and the gun-fu is a thing to behold. Reeves has the role down pat and could probably perform it in his sleep, Neo aside, this is the role he was born to play.

John Wick 2 Keanu Reeves

The only flaw I would say, apart from a slightly draggy first act, is the lack of many great female characters. Ruby Rose is solid as the villain’s right hand heavy and Claudia Gerini gets a striking scene as Gianna D’Antonio but apart from them, they’re a few too many dudes in this assassins club.

John Wick: Chapter Two review

Overall, however, I came out of the cinema thirsty for more. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 is a bruising, breathless action classic in the making and will go alongside THE RAID and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchises as modern action classics.

I’m excited for part 3.

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