John McCann says ‘The Equalizer 2’ is simply pure cinematic escapism…

After the movie depths of ‘The Meg’, last week, I was badly in need of a cinematic pick up upon taking my seat at Tralee Omniplex for this week’s feature presentation Equalizer 2.

Thankfully, with the ever dependable Denzel Washington teaming up with long time directing collaborator Antoine Fuqua, I got just that!

In what is, remarkably, Denzel’s first sequel and his fourth movie partnership with Antoine Fuqua, the audience are treated to the same thrills and spills as the original 2014 film that saw Denzel take on the signature role of Robert McCall.

Continued below…

In Equalizer 2, we see vigilante do gooder Robert McCall serve unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when he has to avenge the murder of someone he loves?

The great thing about a movie that stars Denzel Washington is that even if it isn’t a bona fide classic , it will stay in your memory for days after – it still has Denzel in it!

The veteran and well decorated actor brings his own unique broody and forceful style to every role he plays and almost every time raises the quality of the feature by his presence alone.

That is most definitely true for Equalizer 2, in which plot holes are plentiful and it may not be too dissimilar to Denzel films from his illustrious past but really – who cares?

A full on, revenge seeking, ass kicking Denzel can rival any CGI laded blockbuster and Equalizer 2 is proof of that.

Try to hold on to your cynical stance of indifference when it comes to another middle aged action hero on the rampage, but it’s hard not to be excited about Robert McCall handing out his own form of justice Neeson style to some well deserving crooks!

Commendable supporting performances from Melissa Leo, Bill Pullman and Pedro Pascal and high octane action sequences more than compensate for a less than believable plot and this no nonsense action thriller is a fine way to spend two hours of your time.

Overall, the consistent Denzel strikes again as Equalizer 2 is simply pure cinematic escapism that may be forgettable in the near future but will most definitely hold it’s own amongst the summer’s other big blockbuster offerings!

3.5/5

• For more of John McCann’s movie reviews, check out his Facebook page here and website here