Film: John Wick Chapter 2

GENRE: Action

RATING: R for lots of violence and some language
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 2 minutes

STARRING: Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, Speed, 47 Ronin, Point Break)

Common (Smokin’ Aces, Selma), Ian McShane (Deadwood)

DIRECTOR: Chad Stahelski (John Wick, Matrix – Neo’s stunt double)

WRITER: Derek Kolstad (John Wick)

PLOT: John Wick had a large bounty on his head after repaying a debt.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Thoroughly enjoyed the first John Wick recently.

STORY STUFF: Talk about a fun time at the theatre. Not to sound sexist but this is a guy’s film. Lots of guns and flipping each other over, light on the dialogue. You don’t have to think too hard for this film; it is pure escapism.  It’s a basic storyline of guy kills someone then has to defend himself from countless other killers. Simple and sweet.

ACTING STUFF: Reeves is his focused self and plays it cool as Wick. Laurence Fishburne (Matrix) is barely in the film, not that I like him much anyway. Common does a great job as a rival killer; he has class and menace down. Peter Stormare (Prison Break) is very fun in the beginning; it’s all in the eyes. And Thomas Sadoski (Newsroom) is very funny with only a couple lines to deliver. Fun all around.

ARTISTIC STUFF: A wonderfully choreographed film. Just like the first film, this one is full of killers who hit their targets, bodies flipped over each other with their own weapons used against them, and kill shots like a good assassin should. Also, some cool locales for all the violence. Oh, and I’m a little more frightened of pencils now.    

VERDICT: Four and a half stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You want non-stop gunplay and plenty of head-shots
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Lego Batman Movie