I like to talk about the “breakout sequel.” A breakout sequel is when a film becomes something of a surprise hit, earning decent reviews, strong word of mouth and a leggy theatrical run followed by a post-theatrical surge in fandom and acclaim. Cue the sequel, which then goes a little nuts on opening weekend based partially on the goodwill accumulated from the first film. Think, to varying degrees, The Matrix Reloaded, The Bourne Supremacy, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, The Dark Knight and Pitch Perfect 2. And, to a certain extent, I think that’s what we may see with John Wick Chapter 2.
The $20 million action-thriller, starring Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman brought back into the life over a murdered puppy, earned unexpectedly strong reviews (by being surprisingly great) in late 2014 and was a rare genre offering to actually outperform opening weekend tracking thanks partially to strong critical notices. The first film was acquired by Lionsgate just three months before its October 2014 release. It became something of a generational coronation for those of us who grew up as Keanu Reeves fans, be it via Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Speed and/or The Matrix (to say nothing of his work in the likes of Point Break, The Gift, Parenthood and The Devil’s Advocate).
The film debuted with $14m and legged it to $43m domestic, eventually earning $86m worldwide. And now, just over two years later, Mr. Wick is back. The good news is that there is plenty of room to grow for the second installment, as it’s not like The Hunger Games (or even an over performing comedy like Ted or Neighbors) where you basically started at peak potential. The bad news is that in this day and age, the breakout sequel is less of a guarantee than it once was.
I thought How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Star Trek Into Darkness would build on their crowd-pleasing and acclaimed predecessors, but that didn’t happen (at least not in North America). Still, tracking is promising, and the coming deluge of positive reviews will only help. And in terms of brutal R-rated action theatrics, it’s the only game in town until Logan in just under a month. Talk has already begun concerning a John Wick 3 and a prequel TV series.
Might I suggest Lionsgate look to La La Land and make John Wick 3 a musical?
My Review:
Summit and Lionsgate’s John Wick Chapter 2 gives us exactly what it promises and exactly what we want, for (mostly) better or for worse. It’s a little light on actual story and takes a while to get on its feet, but it successfully expands the mythology and dives headfirst into the criminal underworld which existed on the fringes of the first film. You might have to turn off your moral compass this time around, at least more so than last time, but the picture does eventually become a glorious ballet of horrifically violent gun battles and fight scenes, all staged for maximum clarity and creativity.
Chad Stahelski directs from a screenplay by Derek Kolstad, and the somewhat lengthy film kicks off with what amounts to unfinished business. The admittedly exciting prologue isn’t terribly necessary but rather feels like a concession due to the overall lack of action in the first half of the 122-minute film. Once we get down to business, we’re immediately immersed into the secret assassination society with which the first film merely flirted.
Long story short, John Wick is ready to go back to his quiet life, ready to finally start mourning his wife, when an associate (Riccardo Scamarcio) comes calling with a literal offer that cannot be refused. There is a murder to be done, and Wick’s initial protests don’t go over well with the scheming Santino, who would like the former hitman to rub out his sister so he can take her spot on the leadership council. So it’s off to Rome for Mr. Wick.
Much of the first half of the film is spent in preparation for the big hit, with plenty of time afforded to the ins-and-outs of said secret society of professional murderers. And, without going into details, the job doesn’t quite go according to plan, and the rest of the picture is a near non-stop orgy of carnage and mayhem. It takes a while to get going, but once it does John Wick Chapter 2 never lets up.
This darker, nastier sequel deprives its title character of his comparative moral authority/underdog factor. Wick may have been an assassin, and perhaps not everyone who died by his hand actually deserved it, but he was going after truly despicable folk, and we rooted for his mostly justified revenge. This time out, his mission, no matter how unwillingly he partakes, is relatively unjust.
The film becomes accidentally (?) political in a way that costs it at least some of its escapism appeal. At the end of the day, this sequel is about how a jealous guy arranges to have a female political rival murdered so he can have the power that she earned. Moreover, even though the organization knows full well what’s going on, it mostly sits by and allows this treachery to occur out of obligation or adherence to customs regardless of the eventual outcome.
Mr. Wick may not like it, he’s a participant in this glorified coup. So when the bullets start to fly, and the bodies drop like flies, our rooting interest is mostly due to our previously earned affection for the protagonist as opposed to any actual present tense authority. While the participants are generally careful to avoid innocent bystanders even as the action spills out into the public, and the film uses would-be innocents as a means of creating suspense, our anti-hero is a bit less heroic this time out.
The notion that Wick’s marker would have eventually been called in with resulting consequences does mitigate some of the sympathy afforded to him in the first film since he wasn’t actually out of the game. It’s a tough spot for a sequel like this, absent a long-form narrative previously set in stone and with a desire not to just remake the first film. To the filmmakers’ credit, this is indeed a sequel which ups the ante and dives deeper into its world-building while also muddying the comparatively simple moral waters of its predecessor.
My quibbles, which may not bother you, are in service of a stylish and gorgeous adventure movie with strong acting and terrific action sequences. The copious and varied shootouts and fights are a wonder to behold, even if you start feeling sorry for the various henchmen who have to ponder their last terrifying moments as Wick pins them down and takes out surrounding targets before executing them after-the-fact. If you can turn off your empathy, these are some of the best action sequences you’ll see all year, all framed, staged and edited video game-style for maximum clarity.
Common shows up as a would-be antagonist, and the film doesn’t ignore the idea that he may be the more heroic adversary of the two. They have at least one conversation which will remind audiences of Heat and their showdowns are a highlight. Ruby Rose offers herself up as a stylish deaf-mute secondary baddie, but the somewhat cartoonish Laurence Fishburne cameo is just that. And Keanu Reeves himself again delivers a subtly nuanced turn, as there is a clear sense of anger not just at being called back into the game and still being denied time to mourn his wife but at yet again being used as a tool for evil.
John Wick Chapter 2 will delight fans of the original and those who just want a bit of exquisitely delivered hardcore action thrills. Dan Laustsen shoots a gorgeous action spectacular, using the entire widescreen frame (and mirrors when applicable) to his spatial advantage. I loved the intricate details of how a murder contract is ordered and delivered, and I love how the plot eventually turns every random bystander into a possible threat to our hero (think Fallen). There is a lot to appreciate in this amped-up and high-toned action spectacular.
So yes, I had certain issues with the relative morality of this second installment, but that’s probably the price to be paid for not merely rehashing the first film and for muddying up the waters. John Wick Chapter 2 is a superbly crafted and entertainingly gonzo sequel. It also ends with an interesting status quo that will slightly remind you of another classic sequel. Said status quo is satisfying enough that I’m not sure that I need a John Wick Chapter 3. But if the film does well that’s an inevitability. And considering how excellent the first two films turned out to be, I’m hopeful that the third film won’t be a bonus journey.
