Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

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If the 'Den of Thieves' films end up being a series, it'll probably end up being one of those like 'Lethal Weapon' from my perspective in that while the films are good and entertaining, for some strange reason that I can't quite grasp, they're films I'll see once or twice and be done with them. The problem there is that I have a hard time coming to a solid critical conclusion on these films one way or another. They're both good. This one may be better, but there are other similar movies I'd go back to sooner.

Unfortunately, this is one of those areas where I don't quite understand myself. I love a good heist movie, the chemistry Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. have together on-screen, good action, good dialogue, and these movies have all of that. But they don't quite hit right for me. I really can't explain. But at 2.5 hours, this movie is slightly longer than it needs to be. I may also be a touch brainwashed on the idea that January is the "trash movie" release month when, in fact, there's usually a good sleeper hit or two these days among them.

The second film picks up several years after the first film's events, which held a twist at its end, so if you care about seeing the first one and not having anything spoiled for yourself, stop reading now. A heist team known as the "Panther Crew" is led by a lady named Jovanna (Evin Ahmad), whom Donnie Wilson (Jackson Jr.) has become associated with for a heist job involving a red diamond, disguising themselves as a SWAT team. Little do they know just who it is they're stealing this diamond from.

Meanwhile, Deputy Sheriff Nick O'Brien (Butler) in Long Beach, California, is a little worse for wear after Donnie got over on him in the last film. On top of that, he's recently divorced and only allowed to see his kid once in a blue moon. With nothing left to lose, he seeks out Donnie in hopes of joining him and the Panthers on their next heist - to rob a vault at the World Diamond Center in Nice, France. From there, you have a heist movie with an unlikely team-up and the audience questions whether or not the Panthers can trust Nick or whether or not Donnie will screw Nick over in the end.

As mentioned earlier, things like length have more to do with my disinterest; otherwise, it's hard to put my finger on it. While this almost certainly won't make my "Top 10" by the year's end, I still enjoyed a few key moments within the film. In particular, and without giving too much away, one scene involves Nick and Donnie on a bit of Ecstasy, where they have a "getting to know you" conversation, and it makes for a rather poignant moment within the film, developing both characters much further in a matter of a couple of minutes.

Otherwise, I don't know what else to say about the film. Much like I felt about the last movie, it's "good," not mind-blowingly great, nor is it god-awful in any way. Again, I liked other heist movies better, like 'Italian Job' and 'Ocean's Eleven,' which I can see myself returning to despite their age. But that's me. These aren't movies I'd say one should simply avoid. In their ways, the 'Den of Thieves' films have a certain quality, and the chemistry between Jackson Jr. and Butler is quite solid in both films, particularly here.

This is one of those reviews where I must tell my readers they'll need to check the movie out for themselves because I can't do much to sway them either way. The good certainly overrules the bad in the 'Den of Thieves' films, and they're a good time in their own right, but they remain a bit under the radar in the grand scheme of things. I'd probably give these films a lot more credit if they were straight to streaming or something, though, because they feel about that quality to me. But again - that's just me!

3/5

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