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First, they took his car and killed his puppy. He made them pay. Now, John Wick comes back to reclaim his car and his life. But as another chapter unfolds in his tragic, blood-soaked saga, Wick is inevitably sucked back into the criminal underworld for another episode of vengeance.
As any good sequel should do, John Wick: Chapter 2 plays off of previous events and escalates the tension to overload. Even though Wick got his revenge in the last movie, his past returns again, this time in the form of an unfulfilled oath he's forced to honor. For the first half of the movie, he goes through the motions of fulfilling his debt--a job that takes him to Rome to assassinate a high-profile target. Things don't go as planned. The hunter becomes the hunted. More people have to pay, but this time it may really cost Wick everything.
Action is what sells this series, and it's just as good as the the first film, if not better. The opening scene alone is loud, fast, and relentless. The respite is short before John Wick takes on a whole army of henchmen. He does so with such skill, speed, and efficiency, it becomes a ballet of mayhem.
What makes it so engrossing is that the story is still quite strong. Even though the personal stakes aren't quite as profound this time, the theme of a man contending with his past and his own violent nature remains. The film finds other strong elements to keep the story glued together--compelling external forces of honor and rules, all of which tie back to the unique universe that Wick works in. The literal criminal underworld is livelier than ever--not only does it have its own currency and authority, but also its own accounting office, switchboard, and council. And it all conspires to kill Wick at every turn, leading up to an incredible finale where there are no safe havens anymore. The cliffhanger ending promises that a third chapter will be a total chaos.
Through all this, the film's greatest strengths are in the way it builds tension through threat. Wick was empowered in the first film, but this time he suffers more. Every fight is a struggle. Every twist could kill him. Every friend becomes an enemy, and possibly vice-versa. It's made all the punchier with the film's diligent attention to realistic gunplay (although other absurdities exist).
On top of that, there's a mythic quality to these films, and it becomes more evident among the streets and catacombs of Rome. Wick, much like Kratos in the God of War video games, defies and fights authorities controlling his fate, in the midst of personal loss. Married with the rules, settings, and world-building, the entire John Wick saga becomes a modern-day epic that echoes Greek tragedy. Also, this is probably the closest thing we have to a live-action version of the Noir anime series (which not only had some crazy action and worldbuilding of its own, but also dealt with similar themes of fate).
Keanu Reeves returns with the same stoic, grizzled demeanor, and his dedication to the stuntwork shines amidst the film's neon colors--all of which is captured with skillful photography. In a few amusing scenes, Laurence Fishburne tries his best to chew the scenery, clearly drawing attention to the fact that he and Reeves shared the spotlight in a certain other action film before. Ian McShane fills the shoes of "management" perfectly. Ruby Rose plays a deaf henchman--easily one of the most interesting villains of the lot. Common plays another one, and I was okay with it. Riccardo Scamarcio--a guy I loved to hate. Claudia Gerini--nice. Few other players from the first movie reprise their roles and help maintain the continuity seamlessly. The script is as solid as before. This production boasts fantastic-looking sets, props, costumes, and locales. Music score by Tyler Bates and Joel R. Richard reprises the same soundscapes as the first movie, and it's still one of the most awesome soundtracks I know of. New songs sound fairly cool.
A far better continuation than I initially expected--John Wick's continuing struggles are harder, grittier, more intense. Not only because of the sheer body count (which is through the roof), but also because of the nature of the story and the way it pushes Wick deeper and deeper into his own personal Hell. It's a must-see for action-fans.
Even if you missed out on the first movie, don't sweat it. These films have a fantastic way of showing you all you need to know, and the minute you see Wick in the opening scene, you'll know he's not a man to mess with.
4.5/5
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