'John Wick: Chapter 2' Review

Image from Indiewire

By Diego Coya

John Wick: Chapter 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to 2014’s action packed film, John Wick. This sequel takes place shortly after the events of the original, and the plot follows hitman John Wick, who goes on the run after a bounty is placed on his head. The film explores more of the criminal world that was shown in the first film, and we get to learn more about the assassins and mobsters. Along the way we get a film that has a simple plot and we see tons of action and very violent assassinations.

            John Wick: Chapter 2 was a film I was highly anticipating because the first film was not only of the most surprising films I’ve ever seen, but it was also one of my favorite movies of 2014. I’m glad to report that John Wick Chapter 2 is a great sequel that is an absolute blast to watch. This is the kind of film that is so self-aware of what it is, and it does what it needs to very well. Furthermore, the stunt work is to be given the highest praise. The way the action is choreographed is mind-blowing to say the least.

            Once again, Keanu Reeves gives a fantastic performance as the main lead; he is perfect for this role. Not only is he a tremendous action star, but the scenes which require him to be dramatic and convey emotion, are done really well. Other cast members include Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane, Ruby Rose, Common, John Leguizamo, and Laurence Fishburne. Every actor in here does a suitably fine job, but the standout here is Keanu Reeves.

            Even though I was anticipating this sequel, I was concerned that it would be like Taken 2, where the original was great and the sequel was flat out disappointing. Thankfully, John Wick: Chapter 2 is on par with the first one, and there some things that are improved over the original. One aspect is of course the action. The action in this film is amazing to watch, despite the fact that it’s incredibly violent. The way it’s choreographed is a spectacle to behold, and the audience is able to see that Keanu Reeves is truly committed to his role since he performed his stunts.

            As far as flaws go, there are only a few. The pacing in the first act dragged just a tad bit, it’s not too much of an issue because once it picks up, it never stops being relentlessly entertaining. Another small issue I had was that I felt that the plot in this sequel did not flow as well as the first movie. It’s not that this sequel had a convoluted plot or a bad story, but the first movie had more of a clear and emotional motivation as to why John Wick is forced to go back to work again. Also, there are some scenes that push the boundary of realism with it’s over the top scenarios. Then again, John Wick is a character who makes constant headshots and is pretty much a killing machine. Since the film is a throwback to 80s action movies, I can look behind that nitpick.

            Despite the small issues I had with this movie, this is another great film that I have seen in 2017. I would recommend it to people who are fans of action films and the original John Wick. It’s nice to see that this film is doing really well at the box office; hopefully there will be a third one. If you are someone who doesn’t like violent films that has bloody assassinations then I would say to skip it. However if you loved the original, and if you love action movies, then rush to the theater and see this, because you will have a great time enjoying it. 

Rating: 9/10