Directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch along with writer Derek Kolstad, brought action films out of its slumber with the adrenalin infused re-imagining of gun fights and hand to hand combat in 2014`s surprise hit, John Wick. The film also brought back Keanu Reeves as a bon a fide action star. Now, almost three years later, John Wick is back with the much anticipated sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2.
Wisely, the powers that be have brought back the team of Stahelski, & Kolstad to capitalise on John Wick`s success in order to position this hot property into a successful franchise. In my opinion, the team has made a worthy follow up with John Wick 2. The film offers great action, beautiful locations and solid performances, with Reeves proving, once again, he was made to play a bad ass action “hero”.
The plot of John Wick 2, like its predecessor, revolves once around Wick’s inability to remain retired from this secret world of assassins. This time however, Wick is pulled from retirement in order to honour a marker or blood oath from an underworld figure named Santino played by Riccardo Scamarcio. Wick is forced to kill Santino’s sister so that he may take her place at the High Table (a secret society of crime families). Of course, Santino wants to eliminate any links of the assassination and sets a bounty on Wick’s life.
John Wick: Chapter 2 never strays too far from the formulaic front of its predecessor thus giving the fans exactly what they want. Tons of action in the exciting world of assassins. Personally, I really enjoyed how we learned more about the intricate details of the world of assassins, besides that of The Continental Hotel. I love the back story behind Wick and being privy to some of the “rules” the assassins are bound by. I sure hope we get more tidbits in future instalments.
John Wick: Chapter 2 is a definitely a worthy sequel. Hopefully it will solidify into a John Wick franchise because the more John Wick gets pulled out of retirement, we get pulled into the secret world of assassins. An awesome escape!
