Wick 2: burning the candle at both ends

Rating: 6/10 (30 April 2019)

Although seeing John Wick #1 isn't essential, it'll probably be helpful to the viewer. Wick, a retired hitman, is called back to service to exact revenge for the theft of his car and the killing of his new puppy. In the sequel, he finds that a bounty has been placed on his head and that he owes a Bad Guy for assistance rendered in the past. This leads Mr. Wick into another flurry of murderous rage. As with its predecessor, the plot is pretty easy to follow, and some familiar characters appear. As usual, it's the fight choreography that's the main draw, with a lot of terrific action sequences involving not just gunplay but plenty of hand-to-hand combat. John Wick #2 might not pack the emotional punch of the original, but it makes up for it with some fine supporting performances by Laurence Fishburne, Common, and Ian McShane. You might feel a little punchy yourself after watching what poor Mr. Wick goes through.