John Wick: Chapter 2

"Very Good"

John Wick: Chapter 2 Review


Keanu Reeves picks up his supremely efficient hitman immediately where the 2015 original left him: regrouping with his new, as-yet-unnamed dog after taking down the New York mob that he used to work for. Director Chad Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad have created another unusually satisfying action thriller, with sharply developed characters and a plot that holds more water than most of these kinds of movies. Obviously, it can't be as fresh as the first film, but it's thoroughly entertaining.

Reeves' John still just wants to be left alone, but after taking care of one loose end, he is contacted by Italian mafioso Santino (Riccardo Scamarcio), who calls in a blood oath. Unable to refuse, John heads to Rome to carry out a hit he knows will make his life exponentially more precarious, especially as it puts him into conflict with his old friend Cassian (Common). Sure enough, he now has an army of goons chasing him, led by mute thug Ares (Ruby Rose). So he returns to New York and gets in contact with an underground guru (Laurence Fishburne) who might be able to offer some respite from the hordes trying to kill him. And manager Winston (Ian McShane) is also willing to help John, as long as he abides by the rules of the criminal underworld.

The film is another superb mix of cool imagery and coherent action that moves briskly from one brutal encounter to the next. Vicious gunfights and car chases abound in this movie, and all are staged with bracing energy and a heightened sense of realism. Through all of this, Reeves maintains a sense of weary dignity in finely tailored suits that are refreshed after each messy encounter. How he keeps walking and fighting after each bruising fight is another question.

The colourful supporting cast adds texture all around him. These are all people who have clearly lived full lives, so the film has a remarkable sense of its own mythology as it alternates frantic, inventively staged violence with more quietly tense conversations. Shocking, cringe-induging moments abound, including a chance to see what all the fuss was about John's pencil skills. There's rather a lot more plot and character exposition this time around, which kind of slows the momentum, but it adds detail that will make further chapters even more gripping. And yes, it's clear that this isn't the last we (or the mafia) have seen of John.

Watch the trailer for John Wick: Chapter 2



John Wick: Chapter 2

Facts and Figures

Genre: Thriller

Run time: 122 mins

In Theaters: Friday 10th February 2017

Box Office USA: $30,436,123.00

Box Office Worldwide: $40.6M

Budget: $40M

Distributed by: Summit Entertainment

Production compaines: Thunder Road Pictures, LionsGate, 87Eleven

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Fresh: 110 Rotten: 12

IMDB: 9.8 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: Chad Stahelski

Producer: , Erica Lee

Starring: as John Wick, as Cassian, as The Bowler King, as Aurelio, as Winston, as Helen Wick, as Santino D'Antonio, as Charon, as Jimmy, David Patrick Kelly as Charlie, as Abram, as Julius, as Sommelier, as Gianna Marchesi, Perry Yung as Dr. Randall, as Earl, Nico Toffoli as Brian Blackman, Toshiko Onizawa as Seamstress, Marko Caka as Mario Club Businessman, Oleg Prudius as Russian Assassin, Alex Ziwak as Russian Gunman, as Hitman, Guyviaud Joseph as Earl's Guard 2, Kenny Sheard as Ares Team, as Ares, Tim Connolly as Ares Team #2, Aly Mang as Winston's Personal Assistant, Heidi Moneymaker as Assassin, Nancy Cejari as Business Woman, Crystal Lonneberg as Switch Board Operator, Angel Pai as Assassin, Frank Modica as Park Goer - Assasin, Jennifer Dong as Cocktail Waitress, Elli as Pawnbroker, Sidney Beitz as Bartender, Mark Vincent as Winston's Guard, Nora Sommerkamp as Hotel Guest - Assassin, Justin L. Wilson as Special Ops Assassin, Chris LaPanta as Earl's Guard, Johnny Otto as Assassin, Marmee Cosico as ND Chinatown Pedestrian, Vadim Kroll as Cheslav, Shade Rupe as Opera Attendee, Thaddeus Daniels as Nigerian Man, Margaret Daly as The Operator

Also starring:

Contactmusic


Links


New Movies

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

Advertisement
The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End  Movie Review

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews