'The Equalizer 3' Review: A Lackluster End For Robert McCall
Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall returns to the silver screen with his unique brand of justice in the equalizer 3, a lacklustre and disappointing conclusion to the action franchise.
Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) simply wants to retire and enjoy some well-earned peace and quiet, but unfortunately can never seem to enjoy it for long. Such is the case in The Equalizer 3, where McCall is laying low in a small, quaint Italian town that is harassed and controlled by local crime bosses. It’s not long before he decides to step in and square off against them for the sake of the people in the town he’s grown to love. Joining Washington this time around is his Man On Fire co-star Dakota Fanning, who plays a rookie CIA agent aided by McCall’s intel.
The first two Equalizer films are some of the better action films in recent memory, carving a unique path in the action genre, cementing director Antoine Fuqua as one of the most underrated directors working today. Washington and Fuqua make for a dynamic duo, the pair always bringing out the best in one another. While this sequel is a case of diminishing returns, Washington is still superb. He brings his palpable charisma and magnetism to this character he’s truly made his own, not only excelling in the action scenes, but in the weighted, dramatic scenes as well. He’s what keeps the film watchable, especially when it drags tremendously. Fanning is also a welcome addition to the cast, her chemistry with Washington remaining intact after all these years. Their scenes and exchanges with one another are the best in the film by a wide margin.
While there may not be as much action in this sequel compared to its predecessors, it is far more brutal and visceral here. Every punch, slice, broken bone, and gunshot is truly felt, Fuqua wisely giving the limited action scenes a nice impact and flair. However, Fuqua’s direction shines when he’s showing McCall’s verbal intimidation techniques, allowing the camera to linger on the character to let his words pull the audience in. He knows the true power of the character is how he handles himself outside of the fighting, the weight of his words, and his overall confidence in the face of pure danger.
Unfortunately, there’s a considerable amount of flaws that hinder this sequel. The pacing of the film is sluggish at best, starting slow and never picking up the momentum, even when McCall’s feud with the local crime bosses reaches its fever pitch. This is a film that simply doesn’t move and as a result feels quite boring. Not helping matters is the fact the central villain is completely uninteresting and distractingly cliche. This is a villain that feels like he was ripped out of countless forgettable action thrillers.
While the action sequences are far more brutal here than in the previous two films, there isn’t a single memorable one in the film. The action feels truncated, poorly choreographed, and muted. There are glimmers of a far more visually interesting film like early on where we see an fight scene from McCall’s perspective, but the audience ultimately doesn’t get that movie. Fuqua is a strong director so to see his talents be obscured like this was very unfortunate. He’s a director capable of far better thrills than this, the action paling in comparison to the first two films.
The film also suffers from a lack of compelling emotional drive. In the first two films, McCall’s journey felt emotionally fueled in a way that drew the audience in and allowed them to invest in his brand of justice. Here, while his reasoning for his conflict is certainly in line with the character, it doesn’t have the same punch or appeal. The sequel also attempts to explore the morality of McCall, the character questioning whether or not he’s a good man throughout the film. Washington is an actor who can easily sell this kind of existential crisis, but the film never commits to the idea. It dips its toes in the water, but never fully dives in, resulting in a half-baked attempt at character development.
The Equalizer 3 is a final installment that not only doesn’t feel like a satisfying conclusion for the character of Robert McCall, but fails to bring the entertainment value and widespread appeal this franchise is known and beloved for either. Washington remains a delight as the action hero, but his performance alone cannot save this mediocre sequel. If McCall should get justice for anything, it should be getting another chance to end his journey on better terms.