Denzel Washington reprises his role as the sullen, ex-CIA assassin who has taken on the greater-good role of watching out for the little guy. The opening scene is of him on a train in Turkey beating up 5 guys while retrieving a kidnapped girl for his local bookstore owner. He clearly has skills, to the point that he is basically invincible and whether he will win or lose any confrontation is not really a dramatic tension point in the movie. He will win, without help from anyone else. So the dramatic tension must come from somewhere else. There is an attempt to develop psychological tension as Washington still mourns the loss of his wife, and the loss of his friends. But perhaps the strongest message that comes through is Washington is lonely. He is looking to make connections, even though he professes that he does not want/need any. His taking of a young neighborhood kid under his wing drives at this point, suggesting he needs something out of the relationship too. This installation has definitely resolved all of Washington's past, and really has set up some interesting questions for how his character will move into this next phase of his life. I am more interested in how Equalizer 3 would play out, than I am in how 2 worked out.
3 stars (out of 5)
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