Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Director: Chad Stahelski
Writer: Derek Kolstad
Cast: Keanu Reeves, John Leguizamo, Common, Riccardo Scamario, Margaret Daley, Laurence Fishburne
Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama
Rating: R
After watching and witnessing the first chapter of the franchise, every part of me wanted a sequel. My only concerns were living up to the premise of the first and the loss of the first’s co-director and co-writer. Despite these oppositions, the film blew me away in its action-packed, shootout delivery. Definitely worth the wait and worth the watch.
Content Guide
Violence/Scary Images: Graphic gun violence throughout from head shots to chest shots. Along with this are bloody knife fights and martial art battles that end in broken bones and broken necks. While it is certainly action-packed, it is definitely not safe for kids as it is aimed directly for adults.
Language/Crude Humor: In English, Russian, and ASL, profanity is used throughout from ‘F’ bombs to the use of God’s name being taken in vain.
Spiritual Content: While the supernatural and spiritual realm is not to be seen, references and comparisons to Wick being the Devil who was stabbed in the back after leaving the life he once knew.
Sexual Content: While sexual intercourse is not shown, there is a scene of a female warlord undressing before John in her private dressing room. Though her chest and lower back remains off camera or covered by her arms, she is full nude for nearly 5-7 minutes.
Drug/Alcohol References: Drinking takes place at bars and parties but nothing beyond that.
Other Negative Content: Revenge by taking to violence plays a huge factor in the film let alone the franchise.
Positive Content: It is really difficult to say as to what positive content would be in a film such as this. Other than the fact that no dogs were harmed, unlike the previous film, there really isn’t much positivity.
Review
When the first installment–or chapter–was released in 2014, it took both audiences and critics by great surprise as to how great it was from its simple and solid story to its practical effects, choreographed fight scenes, and cinematography. When the news was released that a sequel was to be released, it is safe to say that fans and critics had concerns as to how it would follow-up on such a priceless story. While the first installment still remains as the best out of the two, the sequel–or second chapter–certainly lived up to fans expectations in its twists and turns, hardcore shootouts, and well done ending.
Keanu Reeves is known more than just for action films such as the Matrix (1999), Speed (1994), and 47 Ronin (2013). He is also known for doing his own stunts, choreographed fight scenes, and even car chases. In John Wick: Chapter 2, he trained with a champion marksman over the course of pre-production and production due to the fact that more shootouts took place throughout the film than the previous installment. All his training, stunts, and driving paid of greatly as the film has done significantly well in the box office and among fans and critics.
One may think that the action in the beginning set the tone of what was to come. That being said, audiences will be blown away by what the film really has to offer in the second half in both the action and story. While the dialogue in a number of ways comes off as cheesy or forced, Keanu Reeves makes that dialogue stick simply by the fact that it is who his character is. Another character that honestly deserves recognition is none-other than Common himself. While being known as a rapper, Common has significantly worked his way up in Hollywood from the AMC series Hell on Wheels (November 2011-December 2016) to films such as Wanted (2008). In John Wick: Chapter 2, Common goes up against Wick himself on numerous occasions throughout as he puts up a rather good fight. In some cases, one would even root for his character due to his various skill sets and his motivations.
