Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is always a delight to watch on the big screen and fans are always thrilled when he comes out with something.

Now if that ‘something’ is the sequel of a film that smashed it at the box-office and was a critic favourite when it came out — well that’s the cherry on top of an already delicious cake.

The Equalizer 2 is one such sequel that had fans jumping with joy upon its release, as they saw their favourite action star back on screen, taking forward a story that was well-loved the first time round.

The 2018 vigilante action-thriller will be on television tonight on Film4 at 9pm.

Helmed by Antoine Fuqua, the film is a sequel to The Equalizer, which was based on the TV series of the same name. There are three films in the series in total, and all star Denzel in the lead as Robert McCall. Joining him to round out The Equalizer 2’s stellar cast are Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Melissa Leo, Bill Pullman, and Orson Bean in his final film appearance before his death in 2020.

The Equalizer 2 was a smash hit at the box office, grossing $190.4 million against a production budget of $62 million.

The movie’s official plot says: “Robert McCall’s mysterious past cuts especially close to home when thugs kill Susan Plummer, his best friend and former colleague. Now out for revenge, McCall must take on a crew of highly trained assassins who’ll stop at nothing to destroy him.”

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 2018 about why he chose to do the sequel, Denzel said: “The only reason is there is a reason. Not just to go blow up some more stuff and run and jump around. There’s got to be some kind of story. The actor in me is hopeful there’s a good story.”

Praise for Denzel’s performance in the actioner was abundant, with one critic saying: “[Denzel] Washington is such a joy to watch. The seasoned star hasn’t lost a bit of his allure, and his ability to carry a film is unmatched.”

While another critic felt it was even better than the original: “A step up from the original, raising the stakes and making an effort that’s not just watchable, it’s occasionally even enjoyable.”

Yet another positive critical review of the film said: “An enjoyable action-packed film with terrific pacing; the two-hour runtime flies right on by.”

Audiences have praised the film aplenty, with one viewer writing: “Still brilliant. Very well written. Great cinematography and visually stunning. Whole cast seems to have grown in character and new dimensions are added. Drama, suspense, twists, lots of action and emotion. A worthy sequel.”

In a glowing review, another impressed fan said: “The Equalizer II is a sequel that’s far more brilliant & nuanced than critics gave it credit for. Where the first film was an action-thriller that revealed a vicious antihero to the audience, The Equalizer II’s focus is grief & pain. The entire film is washed in sorrow & mourning as it explores heady themes with bursts of violence to punctuate the drama. Seriously, The Equalizer films are incredible & deserving of so much more love.”

While one viewer thought it was, “Very good, better than the first one,” another happy fan echoed the sentiment: “It is tighter than the original, coming under 2 hours is a plus. Denzel is great, the plot is a little thin. Overall enjoyed the movie if you are in the mood for an action revenge thriller this will fill you up quite well.”

The Equalizer 2 will be broadcast on Film4 tonight, January 11, at 9pm.

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