It doesn’t happen that often that films with the age rating FSK 18 are shown on free TV before midnight. “John Wick: Chapter 2” is such an example. The action hit from 2017 runs on RTLzwei on Friday from 10:55 p.m. and shows “Matrix” hero Keanu Reeves in his second appearance as a contract killer.
Sequel to a blockbuster
The story of the sequel to the blockbuster is quickly told, it is not very extensive. After a last mission, which he ends with mercy towards his opponent, a drink and the word peace, John Wick just wants to enjoy his peace and quiet and his pension in his luxury property with his dog. He has no one but him, his wife died. But on his first free evening, it’s already over with rest and retirement.
Fellow killer Sentino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamardio) demands a debt, an oath Wick made years ago. Because he once saved his life, Wick is now supposed to kill his sister in return. After all, one hand washes the other.
Because Wick doesn’t agree immediately, he blows up the snazzy property to reinforce his arguments. So he reluctantly submits and travels to Rome to kill his sister. It finally finds its early Cleopatra-like end in a huge, blood-soaked bathtub, but at least it is aesthetically very appealing. Unfortunately, Wick’s mission is not over yet. Because now other killer colleagues want to get at him after Fiesling D’Antonio put a million dollar bounty on his head. After all, what kind of brother would he be if he didn’t avenge his sister? At least he has a sense of humor.
Shooting through Rome and New York
And so lone fighter Wick shoots his way first through beautiful Rome and later through New York again. Only interrupted by dialogues that are just as short and slow, taciturn and mostly dispensable, in what feels like 90 percent of the film, people are just wildly shot, beaten, stabbed or their necks twisted – either in front of a historical backdrop, on the street or in the New York U -Rail. The blood spurts everywhere the same. And because at some point it becomes just as tiring as it is confusing to count the brains that slap the white walls with great regularity, the whole thing quickly loses its charm and – although it is complex and shot in front of a sensational backdrop – soon becomes very, very boring.
The only rays of hope in director Chad Stahelski’s film are the humorous ideas, which are unfortunately far too rare. When Wick is conspiratorially asked by a colleague whether he is in Rome because of the Pope. Or when he and his adversary Cassian (Common) secretly and bashfully shoot themselves in a crowd, then the unfortunately untapped potential of the film becomes clear.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220420-99-976732/2
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