Plot
While on a mission in Italy to ‘help the helpless’ Robert is shot in the back. Managing to escape,, but passes out due to loss of blood, he is found by a police officer who takes him to his towns local doctor, Dr Enzo.
Robert stays with Enzo in the town of Altamonte, while he recuperates, and quickly becomes one of the locals, assimilating himself into their lives. While there, he calls a young CIA officer Emma Collins to inform her of a drug manufacture empire from where his mission was.
He also learns of an Italian criminal organisation run by Vincent, who wants to take over Altamonte, and will do anything to get his way.
Now with Collins in Altamonte too, hot on the tail of the drug baron, he must try to find a way to keep this idyllic coastal town just that…
Direction
Antoine Fuqua is back again, this feels more like the first film again – with a wonderful setting of (the fictional) town of Altamonte.
There seemingly is more reliance on practical effects, which I preferred from the first film. There is some great action sequences which are choreographed well, and one explosive scene that is quite breathtaking (as it would have been for one character!)
Cast
Denzel Washington is of course back as McCall. At 70, he still has what it takes in an action film!
He is joined by his Man on Fire co-star from almost two decades prior Dakota Fanning who plays Collins. It was fun to see them on screen together again, and she has by far aged into her talent.
Other cast of importance are;
Remo Girone as Dr Enzo Arisio, who is the heart of the film. Sadly Girone passed away a few months ago.
Andrea Scarduzio as vincent, who is both the drug kingpin that Collins is after as well as the leader of the local Camorra (the Italian Criminal Orgainsation).
Eugenio Mastrandrea as Gio, one of the police officers of Altamonte, who McCall goes to bat for.
David Denman as Frank Conroy, Collins’ partner. He is severely underused, and would have loved to see more of him.
Breakdown
Starting with what is seemingly a ‘non sequitur’ much like the first film, we see the gory aftermath of one of Robert’s missions – that ends with him with a bullet in the back, and thankfully found by some passerby’s that don’t take him to hospital, rather a small town’s doctor.
The small (and fictional) town of Altamonte becomes part character of the film itself, with Robert slowly integrating himself with the locals, where he can get to know them, their missions etc. He grows to love it so much that he takes great offense when a family of mobsters plan to destroy the town in their own financial gain (and by killing those who apose them). As Dr Enzo tells him early on in the film, he is “where he is supposed to be”.
Once again Robert goes ‘whole hog’ on the bad guys – more brutal than the second film, and equal parts on the first.
I feel this was more in line with film one Robert than two, with his reactions to the events. He is more brutal here in his kills, and is seen using a gun more here than he has in the past, which is slightly unusual for him.
His ‘quirky’ persona – in regards to his clear OCD is more acknowledged here too. I would have liked to see more of his ‘date’ with Aminah, as I felt it would have done Robert justice to have ‘peace’ following the death of his wife. I found the locals making fun of his tea drinking cute.
Dakota Fanning who plays the CIA agent who Robert ‘happens’ to call – is used well, and she has clearly grown into her talent. She is reunited with Denzel almost 20 years after she starred alongside him (as a child) in Man on Fire. They get plenty of scenes together, and end up assisting each other in bringing down the ‘big bad’ of the film. I liked their time together, and how it grows into a mutual respect (especially from Collins to McCall).
I did find the pacing of her arc, and bringing down the drug empire rather clunky – as was the progression of villainy in Vincent. The ‘final’ shootout in Vincen’ts estate felt underwhelming as well, as he is seen to be this ultimate crime lord, but he only has a small hand full of security?
This also introduces her partner played by David Denman, who has been in a dozen or more big projects, I expected him to have more to do (Equalizer 4 maybe?).
There is a rather convoluted ending, which took me by surprise, in which Collins is the daughter of Susan and Brian (Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman) from the previous film. This is obviously why McCall called her, but it felt odd, as if she should surely know of him since her parents were so close to him? It also makes sense why McCall has memories of her earlier in the film.
Overall
Far superior to the second film, but still pales in comparison to the first. McCall’s nature is shown more here, and how his kind heart shines through his ‘dark’ – and how it affects those around him is done best in the “current trilogy” here.
Fanning has clearly grown into her adult talent, but other supporting cast like Denman are severely underused. The MVP goes to Remo Girone as Dr Enzo, who sadly passed away a few months ago.
Some more attention to the pacing would have made this a better score.
3.5/5
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