Action movies. Some are pretty great, while others are just plain awful. Today, we're here to talk about one of the greats and one of my personal favorites. John Wick: Chapter 2 is one of the best movies of 2017. As a big fan of the first film, this sequel quickly became something I was excited to see. The middle entry of what has now become a trilogy (with Chapter 3 announced for 2019), John Wick: Chapter 2 delivers on every level. It's a brilliant display of a minimalist plot with expertly choreographed action sequences.
The Story
The story of an action film can be a tricky beast. On one side, you risk running too deep into mindless action. On the other side, you risk having a story that's half-baked. John Wick 2 manages to strike a perfect balance between it's story and brisk action sequences with great pacing.
Set a few days after the events of the first film, our weary protagonist can't catch a break. There's no time to wait as John is thrust back into the life he thought he'd left behind. Contacted by an old acquaintance whom he owes a blood oath to, John is given a simple task. He has to eliminate a target. Pretty straightforward right? Well....things quickly become complicated once John completes his mission and returns home. What ensues is an act of unexpected betrayal and a second half that expertly transforms the movie from John against his target, to John against the world.
While not a groundbreaking plot by any means, the story is still well acted and serves its purpose of carrying our protagonist on an exciting journey. The cast performances are all well acted and Keanu Reeves turns in another good stint as the titular John Wick. There was also one striking character moment to me that stood out. John arrives at a bank to retrieve some gear and as he opens the suitcase containing an outfit and a handgun, he lets out an appropriately angered scream. It's a nice moment that shows John really wants to be finished with this violent lifestyle. Chapter 2 also succeeds in diving deeper into the criminal underworld of the series, which was only glimpsed in the first film. Here you're given a more internal look at some of the workings of this dark, violent world. Chapter 3 will presumably expand upon this even further and serve as a nice conclusion to John's wild journey.
The Action
Since John Wick is an action franchise it seems appropriate to talk about the gun fights and the choreography. After all, this is why most people want to watch these types of films. The pure action is one of this film's strong points without a doubt. Each action sequence follow's John through a series of rooms and hallways in a dizzying hail fire of bullets. Each move is calculated. From John doing a double shot to an enemy's head, to throwing his empty ammo cartridge and knocking someone out with his fists. It all flows together well with nary a break during these extended sequences.
One thing I will mention and commend the movie for is that it know's when to amp up the action and when to dial it back, allowing for the story to move forward when it needs to. Keanu Reeves hasn't been this badass since his Matrix days and it's wonderful to see him be an action (anti?)hero again. It's also interesting to note how different this film feels from it's predecessor. If the first movie was more of a revenge film, then Chapter 2 plays like more of a an extended chase scene. The second act turns John from the predator into the prey. With eyes on every corner, nowhere is safe. One of the best sections of the movie during which John is being hunted is when he and an assailant are on different levels of a subway platform. Their eyes locked as both take shots at one another from above and below with silenced handguns as they make their way through the crowd. It's a moment that's fun to watch and shows how creative the film is with it's choreography.
In Conclusion
To kind of wrap up, this is the perfect kind of movie for adrenaline junkies. Brisk action, an entertaining story, and Keanu Reeves. My expectations were met and any fears I had about this series missing the mark have gone away. It's the kind of film that could've easily been screwed up but wasn't. Chapter 2 does something special, at least to me in that it surpasses the original. The excellent action is doubled down on and the story is kept simple and engaging enough to entertain while teasing great things for the next sequel. It's pretty safe to say that Chapter 3 will be something I'm eagerly awaiting as 2018 continues. Check out John Wick and Chapter 2 if you haven't already and thank me later, because I highly recommend them.
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