You, Denzel Washington fans (I’m one of them too!), don’t need to gear up for “The Equalizer 3” where Washington is back for the third and final time as Robert McCall, the vigilante who takes matters into his own hands to help those who can’t help themselves.
It’s been nearly a decade since the two-time Oscar winner first stepped into the role of Robert McCall, a former Marine and special ops agent who metes out justice to the criminals he watches over.
Edward Woodward played the character in a British TV series from the 1980s, and Queen Latifah is currently presenting her take on CBS. But at 68 years old, Washington still reigns supreme.
In the first “Equalizer,” McCall quietly ran a Boston home depot. In the second, he was a Lyft driver with some very dangerous passengers. In part 3, he’s taking on Camorra crime families in Italy somehow. Don’t ask questions, just go with the flow.
So, no need to be on high alert for another Denzel Washington action-packed thriller anytime soon!
The instant “The Equalizer 3” commences, Washington begins a vigilant surveillance of the unfolding Russian circumstances . However, rest assured, he’s not facing any immediate threats. Since taking a bullet in the back, McCall has been recuperating in an Italian vineyard. When a local cop, Gio (Eugenio Mastrandrea), finds McCall crashed in his car, the city’s doctor, Enzo Arisi (Remo Girone), steps in to make sure the Equalizer gets back in shape and ready to take down the bad guys.
But not so fast. Washington and director Antoine Fuqua, who previously paired up in the 2001 film “Training Day” that earned the actor his second Oscar, take us on a deceptive calm journey. McCall is getting healthy on the Amalfi Coast, buying a trendy cap, flirting, and sorting things out with a waitress (Gaia Scodellaro). And when Washington flashes that rare smile of his, the sun rises.
The plot thickens, mostly thanks to Richard Wenk’s worn-out script, as McCall spots mafia goons Marco (Andrea Doderro) and his big brother Vincent (Andrea Scarduzio) threatening the little guys. And just like that, crime pulls him back in, pulling him out of almost obscurity after his ordeal in the dark side of things.
So, rest easy, Denzel Washington fans – he’s back to kick some bad-guy butt, but first, he’s enjoying some well-deserved downtime on the sunny Italian coast!
McCall gets some assistance from CIA agent Emma Collins, played by Dakota Fanning, who was just 9 years old when she co-starred with Washington in 2004’s “Man on Fire.” Their sharp banter is a delightful experience, especially when Fuqua swaps out the action for a bit of a twist and slows down the pace.
Now, let’s face it, “The Equalizer 3” isn’t reinventing the action-packed formula with its R-rated ultraviolence. There won’t be anything more than Denzel Washington’s charismatic presence that carries it, and why waste time on B-movie junk, right?
You might argue that the son of a Pentecostal preacher has an affinity for stories of troubled youth falling into society’s cracks, as he’s publicly stated he was once there himself. Whatever the reason, star power like McCall’s injects humanity and palpable dramatic power into these “Equalizer” tales that the films wouldn’t have without him.
Could it be that I’m suggesting “The Equalizer 3” won’t hold its value without its primary drawcard ? You bet.
Washington can do more with a walk, a bowed head, or a glance than most actors can do with pages of dialogue. He’s a star, folks. And one you won’t want to miss.