“What is the point of opening a generic, action-driven, male-revenge fantasy film with a quote from Mark Twain?” –The Eclectic Eccentric
Unless of course, you intended for every reviewer to give you one strike right off the bat. Maybe the director likes living on the wild side or maybe he just takes himself and his work way too seriously. I suppose that’s just one of the many questions I’ll have to answer today as I decide if The Equalizer starring Denzel Washington is Worth It?
Let’s get one thing out of the way from the get-go, this movie features one of the most charismatic stars of his generation. Denzel Washington could do a one-man show reading the phone book and you’d find somebody who’d want to nominate him for an Oscar. So if you’re one of those fans of Denzel just go ahead and watch the film already because this review isn’t for you. For the rest of you read on.
The plot to the Equalizer is as simple as you expect from a film of its ilk. Retired bad-ass is living a quiet life having sworn off violence after a personal tragedy. Someone bad hurts one of the few people the retired bad-ass cares about (in this case a young prostitute he knows from his neighborhood dinner) and retired bad-ass unretires to do something about it. Low and behold it means going up against the Russian Mob because I mean when doesn’t it. Hilarity ensues. No, I’m kidding. No one in this movies laughs. Ever. But lots of dead Russians ensue.
The thing about all of this is I did a review for John Wick not all that long ago and the two films are too similar it’s impossible not to compare them. That comparison is not a favorable one for The Equalizer. While Denzel may be more captivating than Keanu John Wick went to some serious effort to word build its seedy underground of blood and ultra-violence. The Equalizer just takes itself to damn seriously to be enjoyable.
So is The Equalizer worth it? No, I can’t say that it is. It’s got decent action, a good cast, and is a solid action film but it’s just so god-damned bland that you have to think what’s the point of spending two hours watching it? It’s just another interchangeable, unremarkable action film. If you want to see Denzel rage-kill bad dudes go watch Man on Fire again and if you want a revenge fantasy go watch John Wick or Taken. Again I’m not saying it’s a bad film but I’m never going to call a movie that I’m going to give 3 out of 5 stars to and never think about it again worth it. There are just too many better ways to spend two hours.
That’s it for this edition of Worth It? Sorry, Denzel better luck next time.