A disappointing sequel for the most part

Rating: 4/10 (22 July 2017)

"John Wick: Chapter 2" is an American movie from this year (2017). Experienced visual effects artist Stahelski and Kolstad returned from the very first Wick film to work on the script/direction here too, so the premise with regard to people working behind the camera is there. And in front of the camera we see familiar faces again, people that survived the film, like most of all Keanu Reeves playing the central character. This is a really long film at over 2 hours and at this runtime, it is considerably longer than the first. And there is a lot other stuff different compared to the original. Most has to do with the fun component. I think the first film was a great fun watch from start to finish while offering emotion nonetheless and also delivering in the crime and drama genres. And action too, but I don't care too much about that. This genre is also basically the only one where this new movie delivers as the first 30 minutes are truly packed with action. It gets less afterward, but there is no denying that it was still all about the action and nothing else.
The antagonists are not written in a way where you would really care for them, let alone fear them, for over 90 minutes. It's a shame as Wick running into mafia and a great elite of crime bosses could have made for a truly entertaining watch. But the film loses itself in chase sequences, gunfights and other scenes that may be spectacular to watch, but almost have no impact at all in terms of story-telling. The ending indicated that they may very well make a third John Wick movie and I think it would be unrealistic to hope it could get as good as the first film, but at least I wish it could get better than this first sequel. I am baffled by how critics and audiences alike apparently enjoyed this film almost more than the first because I did not manage to see the appeal at all. At least this raises the chances for a third film, which will hopefully be better again. As for this one: Gotta give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended.