John Wick: Chapter Two is the continuation of the surprise action hit John Wick. Although the original was a pretty compact story, John Wick: Chapter Two looks to expand the lore introduced in the original. Additionally, it promises high octane action. The original film was excellent in its “in your face” fight scenes, technical gun play, and style. It was one of the biggest surprises of 2014, and director Chad Stahelski is looking to recreate that magic. Does John Wick: Chapter Two excel and impress, or fall victim to sequelitis? Let’s find out.
One of the best parts of the original John Wick was its inherent motivation. The original story followed the titular character, a retired hit man After his wife’s death, he receives her dying gift. This comes in the form of an adorable puppy. However, this joy is short lived when a couple Russian gangsters kill his dog and steal his car. It’s pure motivation for vengeance; revenge is best when it’s for love. The film wrapped this story up very well, and it functioned just how it needed to. However, this drew a lot of concern on the continuation. Luckily, John Wick: Chapter Two builds on its lore and world building and is a much more narrative driven film. I don’t want to give too much away, but instead of a simple “I want revenge” story line, John Wick: Chapter Two feels more complex in its structure.
Following a simple three act arc, the film picks up right after the end of the original. After going to retrieve his car and finally settle the score, he finds himself thrust back into his old job. The reasoning is something I leave for you to find out, but this slightly different motivation holds a different perspective on John Wick’s character. The first film was all about seeing just how hardcore John is, and how his abilities as a hit man transferred into pure killing power. John Wick: Chapter Two sees John back in the business of hired murder, and we finally get to see him operate. The film has a few issues with pacing, namely a pretty action-free first act. However, act two of the film shows off John in his true form. It’s pretty great to see John plan out an assassination, and utilizing all of the tools at his disposal. John Wick: Chapter Two feels a lot like a James Bond film, just with more guns than gadgets.
That being said, despite all the talking and world building, the action is tremendous. It’s a bit shaky at times, but you never get too lost. The fight scenes are brutal and aggressive, the gun play quick and precise. There’s also quite a bit of vehicle combat throughout the film. In fact, counting the number of times John Wick gets hit by a car became a fun game I played throughout my viewing. The violence in this film is a bit more gruesome than the first. While it never gets truly gory, there’s a few scenes that might make you cringe. You’ll know exactly what I mean when John shows off his aptitude with a pencil as a weapon. All things considered, John Wick: Chapter Two has excellent action that is immersive and enthralling. It’s truly gripping stuff, which makes the slower parts of the movie feel a bit extra slow. That’s not to say that the slower parts aren’t good, rather that they just feel tamer in comparison to the action scenes.
The film is also wonderfully shot, thanks to director Chad Stahelski. While his directing credits only extend to the John Wick films and the upcoming Highlander reboot, his stunt work includes films like The Matrix, 300, and even The Hunger Games. Speaking of stunts, Keanu Reeves returns to his role of John Wick and does most of his own stunts. In fact, I think that Keanu Reeves is the only person who can truly pull this character off. Whether it’s his grizzly tone or general demeanor, Reeves absolutely knocks it out of the park once again. While there isn’t any insanely quotable lines, he commits to the character so well that most of his lines come off perfectly. Sure, there’s a few cheesy one-liners, but for the most part, Reeves’ portrayal is spot on. There’s also some great performances from supporting actors. Ian McShane plays a very convincing Winston, the owner of the Continental Hotel that serves as a safe haven for assassins. Actor/musician “Common” plays an excellent stone faced Cassian, a body guard that takes it personal when John carries out his work. Lance Reddick gets a bit more time on screen in Chapter Two, which is great. I really enjoyed his calm and collected receptionist character at the Continental, so it was nice to see him back. Lastly, Laurence Fishburne makes a great appearance towards the end.
John Wick: Chapter Two is an exciting film that doubles down on what made the first film so good. While it never truly reaches the heights of the original, Chapter Two provides some excellent additional lore, introduces interesting new characters, and continues John Wick’s story in a good way. Just as the original John Wick surprised me, I was equally surprised that Chapter Two turned out to be as good as it was. Although there’s a few pacing issues that make the film drag a bit, the action is well worth it. With an obvious John Wick: Chapter Three in the works, I felt that Chapter Two did what it needed to do. By both simultaneously delivering on bloody action and fleshing out the world of the franchise, John Wick: Chapter Two succeeds in being both a great sequel and a great movie. If you’re a fan of action films, crime thrillers, or just watching Keanu Reeves kill a bunch of people, check out John Wick: Chapter Two. It’s a great time, and I can’t wait to see where they take this series next.
Rating: 8.75/10
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