Denzel Shines as Lyft-Driving-Good-Guy-Turned-Vengeful-Hitman in ‘Equalizer 2’

Dare I say it?!? Equalizer 2 was actually pretty damn good! Denzel Washington brings a surprising amount of heart and compassion to the role of clapback killa. Antoine Fuqua delivers much-needed style, excellent pacing, and damn good action scenes. Did I say ‘damn good’ already?? I meant eye-popping, flinch-inducing, “oooouuuu”-shoutingly good murder music for ya optics! Blood-thirsty fans will be pleased from the jump, as we get a gorgeous, sweeping, snowy shot of a Turkish railway train outside Istanbul. As Robert McCall, Denzel shows you exactly what he’s about: reading Ta-Nehisi Coates, starting up that guaranteed-to-catch-a-body-in-8-seconds stopwatch, and giving mufuckas a choice to do what’s right. The alternative is to suffer hella broken bones, countless dislocated extremities, shattered teeth and an occasional homicide or 4. In a nod to the first movie, Fuqua reminds fans that the Equalizer has a penchant for saving little white girls from European scumbags while looking like a straight-up G in the process! He doesn’t linger on the past long, though, and we’re thrust into this gripping new story.

I was wild surprised to be so invested in the first 40 minutes of this joint. The “dead” ex-military operative has resorted to driving a Lyft. Attempting to lead a quiet, retired life, he occasionally helping out various civilians. The writing really shines in these moments. McCall overhears a young lady crying tears of joy as she talks to her parent about getting accepted…