A Disappointing Sequel: When The Equalizer Lost Its Balance
This sequel to the memorable crime thriller falters, betraying its own established rules and squandering the charm and power of the original.
Having dealt with the Russian mafia, former CIA special agent Robert McCall seems to have found a semblance of peace. He continues to perform small acts of kindness, listening to the stories of his taxi passengers, while also undertaking dangerous assignments for his longtime colleague Susan Plummer. Unfortunately, one of Susan’s operations ends in tragedy, but Robert suspects foul play. Examining videos, clues, and eyewitness accounts, the experienced operative discovers a connection between his friend’s death and the actions of another CIA agent. Verifying the traitor’s involvement is easy, but the traitor isn’t willing to surrender. Instead, along with a group of loyal accomplices, the villain begins hunting Robert and those he cares about.
Denzel Washington’s fans have every reason to be envious. The actor consistently delights his audience with a variety of roles, a bold choice of genres, and extraordinary dedication to every project. Just look at the past five years: Washington has “visited” the Wild West, confronted racial issues in 1950s America, and even sued himself, all while remaining one of the leading action film stars of the 2000s. And of course, we shouldn’t forget the success of “The Equalizer,” a crime thriller that tripled its budget. The story of a mysterious avenger capable of dealing with a well-armed gang using only a hammer and a nail puller resonated with many.
Both of Antoine Fuqua’s feature films are based on the “Equalizer” series that aired on American TV in the mid-80s. The creators of the TV show, Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim, co-wrote the screenplays for “The Equalizer” and “The Equalizer 2.”
The Disappointment of a Sequel
The sequel to “The Equalizer” was highly anticipated, and the fact that Antoine Fuqua, the director of the first film, took on the continuation was a welcome bonus. This was the first time the director had filmed a sequel to his own film, and Washington had never stepped into the same river twice before. It seems that this is precisely what ruined the second “Equalizer.” The film not only lost its novelty but also demonstrated a complete helplessness unworthy of the original. Perhaps the plot of “The Equalizer 2” would have looked good performed by “third-rate” actors in a film released directly to video and without any connection to beloved characters, but it’s sad to see the names of a two-time Oscar winner and the director of “Training Day” in the credits of this mediocrity.
Talk of a sequel to “The Equalizer” began even before the first film was released in 2014. In July of this year, even before the premiere of the long-awaited sequel, director Antoine Fuqua noted that he would gladly work on a third installment.
Betraying the Original’s Strengths
The biggest complaint about the sequel is that the new “Equalizer” completely disregards its own rules from four years ago. Now, Robert no longer tries to be a “law-abiding citizen” who uses force only as a last resort. Where McCall previously handed villains over to justice, he now calmly uses a pistol or breaks necks. Where the hero previously pondered justice, blood now flows like a river. If Bob used to have “Rules of Life” that could be printed out and hung on the wall, now both the hero, the actor, and the director have forgotten about them. Yes, the film gained an additional opportunity to show fight scenes thanks to the expansion of the boundaries of what is permissible. But the action displaced the sincerity and humanity of the leading character, which is precisely what made McCall “The Equalizer.”
Uninspired Action and Weak Villains
However, there are also complaints about the action. Fuqua, of course, has not lost his talent for staging exciting chases and shootouts, but in this particular case, he lacked inspiration. All the main fight scenes, with the exception of the villains’ duel with Melissa Leo’s character, exude a certain apathy and fatigue. The finale, which takes place in a deserted town, is downright soporific. We recently saw something similar in “The Hurricane Heist,” and that film looked much more energetic. Fans of the “shooter” genre may not be disappointed, but you expect something more from “The Equalizer” than a hectic scramble and contrived fights awkwardly hidden by rain and wind.
The unpretentious villains of the new film are also somewhat depressing. Not only is the main intrigue of the plot revealed in the poster, but the motivation of Washington’s hero’s opponents is, to put it mildly, far-fetched. Porthos’ famous words, “I fight because I fight!” are more appropriate here than ever. Well, the hero has “deflated,” why should his opponents be better? “The Equalizer 2” doesn’t even come close to the smell of fear and the feeling of imminent danger that Marton Csokas’ character exuded, so the new film is inferior to its predecessor in every way.
A Missed Opportunity
In recent years, we have often noted that sequels, if they do not surpass the originals, at least match their level and expand the created universes, complementing each other. “The Equalizer 2” is a clumsy exploitation of the achievements of the successful 2014 film, erasing all the best aspects but giving nothing in return. Such sequels were released 10-20 years ago and “killed” franchises. Fortunately, Washington and Fuqua’s reputation is strong enough that one failure cannot undermine it, but they shouldn’t equalize anymore. Let Robert McCall rest; he deserves peace.