John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

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As these 'John Wick' films continue to unfold, I will say right now that in some (if not all) cases, such as the one with 'Chapter 2' here, spoiler territory feels necessary to get to the main plot. With that in mind, if you haven't seen the first film and are at all interested in preserving any surprises for yourself, please don't continue reading. However, I will say that after four feature films, it's probably fairly evident how the last one went in the case of 'Chapter 2.' So, if you're interested, read on; if not, skip down to my rating.

Between the first two films, it's hard to say which one I like better. While the first seems an obvious choice, just based on what it represents for an entire subgenre of gun-slingin', fast-paced firepower and stunt work we fondly call "Gun Fu." It's the classic, of course. But 'John Wick 2' hits the ground running, never really slows down, and is, from beginning to end, an action-packed spectacle for the eyes. It does what a good sequel should and cranks things up a bit more - not just the action, but the stakes as well.

As the first film ends, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) completes his mission of vengeance, taking down Russian mob boss Viggo Tarasov and his son, Iosef, because Iosef shot his dog and stole his car. In the aftermath, John finds and rescues a pit bull while treating his wounds, a dog that will remain by his side for a while. However, he doesn't manage to recover his car, which is where this film picks things up as John infiltrates a compound run by Abram Tarasov (Peter Stormare) and succeeds in getting his Boss 429 Mustang back.

With a job well done, the bounty off his head, and so on, John returns home for some peace, but then, if he found it, we wouldn't have much of a sequel. John receives a visit from Camorra crime boss Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), who reminds John about the "marker" (a blood oath) given to him upon completing an "impossible task," which allowed John what was supposed to be a quiet, retired life with his late wife, Helen. Santino wants to utilize John's skills to locate and eliminate his sister, Gianna (Claudia Gerini), so he can claim her seat at the "High Table," a council of twelve high-ranking crime bosses in the underworld.

John reluctantly agrees to fulfill his blood oath, once reminded at the Continental Hotel (a neutral ground for assassins and the criminal underworld, briefly mentioned in the last review) that following through with a blood oath is a strict rule of the Continental, along with not conducting business on Continental grounds (assassinations, etc). Santino also sends his bodyguard, Ares (Ruby Rose), to secretly observe John's mission with a trick or two up his sleeve. Cutting right to the chase, upon accomplishment of John's mission, Santino plans to put a $7 Million bounty on John's head in "revenge" for the death of his sister.

I appreciate how 'John Wick 2' flips the tables a bit, turning it into much more of a survival scenario than the revenge scenario of the first film. Once that bounty gets put on John's head, you feel the tension, and the concept of the "one-man army" feels a little more abundant. Hunting as an army of one is one thing - surviving against many is quite another. Either way, it carries over the non-stop action the first film had to offer, not just in gunfights but also in martial arts and montages that include actions such as killing with a pencil.

I think that the first 'John Wick' is probably the all-around better movie, but I might suggest 'John Wick 2' is better for its "popcorn" aspect. In other words, this one is more entertaining for its style than its substance. Still, though, it's nice that they manage to continue things and change them up just enough so the film can be its own thing and not just a copy of what we did last time. It makes for a pretty badass overarching story, and this one also leaves us with a cliffhanger that leaves us wanting more. The rollercoaster ride continues smoothly here, and the viewer can't wait for the next thrill.

5/5

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