The Equalizer 3

Tonight, on On Demand, I watched “The Equalizer 3,” which came out in theaters in September but on premium-on-demand last month. As you may recall, I was not fond of the second film. How is this one compared to the last sequel?

“The Equalizer 3” is not a franchise dragging to the final act. If anything, the third film of the franchise makes a very strong case for at least one more chapter.

Denzel Washington and Director Antoine Fuqua had never done a sequel to any of their largely successful films until this franchise. That’s helped make “The Equalizer” so special. It’s a shortage and one audience can’t take it for granted. It’s a good thing that this partnership has delivered way more than expected.

“The Equalizer 3” starts with an intense opening scene in Southern Italy. Washington’s Robert McCall has left major damage in his path. And he’s got just a few more victims left.

Fuqua doesn’t repeat the popular parts from the previous two films. Franchise fans know the logical method where McCall calculates how to take out overwhelming odds and it stays highly effective. Now, Fuqua lets viewers fill in the gaps. We don’t have to see every death and action happen. Sometimes it’s more effective to leave some elements up to the imagination.

This mission is different as McCall lets his guard down too quickly and gets seriously damaged. Fortunately for McCall, he’s saved by a nice police officer Gio (Eugenio Mastrandrea), and Enzo (Remo Girone), a skilled doctor who understands the need for secrecy. McCall can’t jump back to full strength immediately allowing screenwriter Richard Wenk to give the dangerously effective killer a new look on life.

Jeffrey Lyles said in his review, “And with the majestic views and captivating architecture, it’s not a bad place to set up a new chapter.”

Over time, McCall starts looking at Enzo and Gio as friends along with the friendly waitress Aminah, played by Gaia Scodellaro, who’s written just short of being a love interest. Lyles noted, “His new peaceful existence is threatened when the local mafia start getting more aggressive with their shakedowns and protection money racket.”

Maybe the best part of the film is it has some really wicked, hopeless villains. Andrea Scarduzio and Andrea Dodero are the alpha villains, playing brothers Vincent and Marco, who are frightening the town through intimidation and cruel physical violence. Lyles noted, “They’re not charismatically cool or even get a whiff of great witty dialogue. They’re loathsome awful people who McCall can’t kill off soon enough.”

In the real world where ideas like fairness and justice seem like hopeful thinking it’s nice to watch a movie where villains have to pay real consequences for their actions.

Lyles said, “Since he’s still recovering, McCall can’t immediately jump into action especially when there’s more layers to this racket than initially appears.” McCall calls CIA analyst Emma, played by Dakota Fanning, to bring the situation to her attention.

Lyles credited, “The scenes with Washington and Fanning are the film’s most intentional to showcase his boundless charisma. Fanning is game, giving Emma enough agency that she doesn’t shrink on screen with a focused pursuit of uncovering the case.”

Lyles continued, “There’s an irony in the film taking place in Sicily as the final act has a definite Godfather vibe to it.”

Fuqua’s restraint in holding back on too much violence from McCall’s end works well. To some degree, this is McCall getting pulled back into a life he’d rather leave, but the dangerous acts of the brothers make sure he’s got no choice but to get violent once again. For temperance for most of the film, Fuqua doesn’t hold back when it comes to letting the brutal violence occur constantly.

Lyles noted, “Washington displays a cold, detached prowess as McCall is taking out bad guys. It’s almost like he’s entering a killing trance and he’s just taking out annoying obstacles in his path.”

“The Equalizer 3” shows this franchise still has enough for a fourth movie. If it’s good enough for John Wick, the fourth time can be the charm for Robert McCall too.

I was surprised at how much better this film was compared to the second one. Unlike John Wick, there are a lot of slow moments in the film, which I think is fine. I like that it takes time to build up the action to get to the parts we like. Check this out on premium-on-demand because I think it is worth watching. I don’t think this is currently still playing in theaters, but if not, then you can see it On Demand. If you weren’t a fan of the second movie, then you should see this one. I hear there are talks of another, whether it will be a prequel or a sequel, we will find out.

Thank you for joining in on this review tonight. Look out tomorrow to see what I will end the year off with.