The second chapter starts virtually where the first movie left off - with an opening sequence full of the tire screeching and bullet flying action you came to expect from its predecessor. Everything looked good for Wick to return to his self-imposed retirement, and it also tied up a few of the loose ends on the way. That is until badass Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) turns up with a blood marker, a debt that's owed and looking for repayment, one last job; all he has to do is assassinate Santino's sister, and the marker would be repaid and Wick can, at last, get back to his retirement.
After a little gentle persuasion (if having rocket-propelled grenades burn your house to the ground can be called "gentle persuasion"), Wick reluctantly takes the job of assassinating D'Antonio's sister Gianna. With this, the movie moves swiftly to Italy and this is where the action is cranked up a gear - starting with a gunfight that leaves a kill count any Call of Duty player would be immensely proud of!
The performance of Keanu Reeves's portrayal of the hitman nicknamed the Bogeyman is competent, especially as he doesn't have too much to say on screen, his is a case of his "actions speak louder than words". Another returning actor is Ian McShane who again plays Winston, the head of "The Continental" a bizarre hotel that gives sanctuary to killers along with Charon (Lance Reddick) as the charismatic desk manager.
John Wick came as a pleasant surprise back in 2014, but chapter two does not hit the highs that that movie hit. For fans of the first movie, you will be glad to know there is a lot of familiarities that made the first movie so watchable. However, something new arrives in Laurence Fishburne's character Bowery King and adds a little something to freshen up the movie at a point when it needed it.
All this, unfortunately, is let down by the script, as the script for chapter two is nowhere near as good as the first. But that's not being too critical as what it lacks in the dialog it does make up for in action. With a background in stunt choreography, director Chad Stahelski uses his knowledge well, using the fight scenes to move the story along to a conclusion that isn't wholly surprising, but the end scene does set the third movie in the series up quite nicely.
The Blu-ray offers a number of special features focusing on everything from the stunts and fight scenes to a look at the tools of the trade and the number of bodies that stack up in this film. They include:
- Various Deleted Scenes
- Featurette - RetroWick: Exploring the Unexpected Success of John Wick
- Featurette - Training John Wick
- Featurette - WICK-vizzed
- Featurette - As Above, So Below - The Underworld of John Wick
- Featurette - Friends, Confidantes: The Keanu|ChadPartnership
- Featurette – Car Fu Ride Along
- Featurette – Chamber Check - The Evolution of a Fight Scene
- Featurette – Wick's Toolbox
- Featurette - Kill Count
- Audio Commentary with Chad Stahelski & Keanu Reeves
To sum up, then, I'd have to say although John Wick 2 is lacking substance in places, it is a fast, action-packed movie that will brighten up any dull summer's day.
Grade: B
