It’s easy to forget just how awesome the original John Wick film was.
The 2014 story of the retired hitman, played effortlessly by Keanu Reeves, forced back into the murky assassin world after the death of his wife (and indeed the brutal murder his dog) was widely recognised as one of the best action films of that year.
It was also clear that there was much that could be done with the character and the world he existed in, making this sequel inevitable.
Thankfully, John Wick: Chapter 2 is equally as good as the great original and scales up the assassin underworld in a slick and stylish manner.
If John was forced back into the game against his will in the original, it’s fair to say that he’s very much dragged into it kicking and screaming this time around.
The film also benefits from perhaps the best opening scene I’ve seen since The Revenant, with John tying up the one loose end that remained from the original…getting his car back.
This not only serves as a great way to bridge the two films, but also allows the always-excellent Peter Stormare, here playing a Russian mobster, to recall the legend of John Wick (or the boogeyman, as he calls him).
Essentially, he’s a man that you just don’t mess with, no matter who you are.
Unfortunately, Italian mafia type Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) didn’t get that memo. He serves as the catalyst for John getting back into the game this time around, forcing him to undertake a ‘job’ in Rome
That part of the film is absolutely incredible action-wise, but also expands the original’s impressive notion of ‘The Continental’ (the hotels where assassins can hide in plain sight but are unable to harm each other).
Ian McShane’s Winston is back as the head of the hotel chain – and it’s fair to say that he and Wick don’t really see eye-to-eye this time around.
Three notable new characters are effortlessly introduced too, with Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King perhaps the biggest.
But, while it’s great to see Reeves and Fishbure back together for the first time since The Matrix trilogy, it’s Common’s Cassian and Ruby Rose’s Ares that impress.
Rose oozes charisma as a mute bodyguard, while Common also shines as a heavy that feels like a genuine equal to Wick (it’s like the pair went to the same assassin school).
As with the first film, the violence is devastatingly visceral and feels much more realistic than the average action shoot-em-up.
It can be hard to watch at times, with Wick’s bodycount incredibly high. But, whether he’s performing a headshot or stabbing somebody in the brain with a pencil, the action is super slick.
Without wishing to give too much away, it’s great to see Reeves’ Wick become more and more desperate as the story evolves.
While you’ll feel sorry for him at times, it’s just great seeing such a brilliant character with his back against the wall – and the results are explosive.
This is a genuine must-see film for fans of the genre and, with great scope for a third film, John Wick is very much taking over as the best one-man army in the business.
Voice Verdict: 9/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Breathless action
+Visceral violence
+ Main cast are all excellent
+ Great expansion of original
+ Amazingly slick
SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Feb 24 to Thurs, Mar 2)
**LOGAN (15)
8.20pm (Wed/Thur)
**HIDDEN FIGURES (PG) Noon (Sat/Sun/Wed),
5pm (Thu), 5.30pm (not Sat/Tue/Thur)
**A CURE FOR WELLNESS (18)
5.15pm (not Thur), 8.20pm (daily)
WOLYN (15)
5.15pm (Thurs), 8.15pm (not Thurs)
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (15)
2.40pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 4.30pm (Tues), 6.10pm (Sat/Sun), 8.40pm (not Sat/Sun/Tues)
THE GREAT WALL (12A)
2D –10am (Sat), 3.40pm (daily)
3D – 1pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 6.10pm (not Sat/Sun)
PATRIOTS DAY (15)
12.10pm (Sat), 2.40pm (not Mon/Tues/Thur), 8.20pm (daily)
FIFTY SHADES DARKER (18)
5.50pm (not Fri/Sun/Mon/Tue), 6pm (Fri/Sun), 8.40pm (not Wed/Thur)
LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (U)
2D – 2.45pm (Sat/Sun), 6pm (daily)
3D –10am (Sat/Sun), 12.20pm (Sat/Sun), 3.45pm (not Sat/Sun)
SING (U)
2D – 10am (Sat/Sun), 12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 3pm (Sat/Sun), 3.40pm (not Sat/Sun/Tues)
KIDS’ CLUB
Fri/Sat/Sun 10am – Storks 2D (U)
and
Fri/Sat/Sun 10.15am – The BFG 2D (U)
SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Hidden Figures (PG)
SUBTITLED SHOWING
Tuesday – Hidden Figures 5.30pm (PG)
**FREE LIST SUSPENDED
