For today’s review I’m stepping away from horror and film noir and checking out the recently released “The Equalizer 3”. This sees star Denzel Washington reunite with his favourite director Antoine Fuqua for the third installment in his race swapped Equalizer reboot series. I never really figured out why they decided to make the first film as a reboot of an 80’s TV series franchise most people didn’t even know. It always seemed to me there was more clout from having Denzel than their was from the franchise. It’s particularly puzzling since they dramatically changed the character and the franchise as a whole. At this point it’s only the name and the name of the protagonist that has any ties to the original. Ultimately though it doesn’t matter since the first two installments were really good. Anyway, let’s see if this one holds up to the others!
The Equalizer Busy Equalizing.
Our movie starts with Robert McCall (Washington) taking out a Mafia stronghold, to recover something (What is revealed at the end and is not relevant to the main plot, though it is to the character of McCall). While leaving he is shot by the grandson of the Mafia boss. Being a good guy McCall naturally didn’t want to kill a child and this left him injured and even considering taking his own life. In the end though he drives off, but falls unconscious somewhere along the Amalfi Coast and is rescued by Gio Bonucci (Eugenio Mastrandrea), a local carabiniere. Bonucci brings him to the remote coastal town of Altamonte, where he is treated by small-town doctor Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone).
As McCall recovers he grows attached to this little town and it’s people. He perhaps considers making his retirement permanent here. However it becomes apparent the local Mafia has plans for the town and it’s relentless shakedown of the working people there is part of a greater scheme. To protect this little pocket of paradise he has found, McCall must go back to what he knows and start equalizing things. Eventually he will have to face off the local Mafia boss, but he must also protect the town people.
Small Town Charms.
This is not an action film. This is the first thing to take into consideration because it doesn’t really work as an action film. Robert McCall is basically an unstoppable killing machine, so as an action film it would need a real physical threat to our hero and this film doesn’t find one. Instead it is a drama story book-ended by two major action scenes and with one very small action scene towards the end of the second act. In some ways it would make a good superhero film and it’s interesting because it does remind me a lot of Spider-Man 2. Specifically how the turning point in that movie is regular New Yorkers stepping up to defend Spider-Man. In the same way the town folk step up to help McCall, saving his life and effectively allowing him to do what he does.
While this is mostly a drama, the action that is there is well done. It’s nothing that wouldn’t be out of place in the first two movies. However the strength of this movie is in the heartwarming retired hero finds a home story. We get to see day to day life in a picturesque Amalfi Coast town and it is certainly charming. Italians love to socialise and this makes it impossible for McCall to stay aloof from things, he can’t help but love the place. After being nursed back to health there Robert it seems wants to stay. So when the village is threatened by the Mafia he has to stand in their way. It’s a very simple story. The side plot with CIA Agent Emma Collins is almost irrelevant. With or without that larger criminal activity, McCall would still need to protect the town.
Conclusion.
I have mixed feelings about this film. I can’t help but feel plot wise there is pretty much nothing here, at least not in the case of genuine stakes and plot that feels important. Yet, what is here works well. Perhaps it is a triumph for character focused storytelling. Perhaps it is proof that the charm of a small town is pretty much irresistible. Then again maybe it’s just Denzel Washington. He is after all one of the last genuine movie stars out there. Anyway, I’m giving this film a 6.5/10. About on par with the previous more action orientated sequel and a notch below the original film (Which is a strong 7/10).
You must be logged in to post a comment.