An assassin decides to take a break and go on vacation, but trouble doesn’t take long to find him.
If you loved the first one… then chances are you will have a good time with this one.
So, here’s how it goes. Director Ilya Naishuller could not return for the sequel after doing a fantastic job with Nobody (2021): https://kaygazpro.com/nobody-2021-action-crime-drama/. This time, the directing duties fall to Timo Tjahjanto, the man behind Headshot (2016): https://kaygazpro.com/headshot-2016-action-drama-thriller/ and The Night Comes for Us (2018): https://kaygazpro.com/the-night-comes-for-us-2018-action-thriller/, amongst others, making his American debut with a film that fully embraces excess, chaos, and over-the-top action.
And it works… well… mostly… The recipe remains very similar to the first film. The script follows a fairly predictable structure, the levels of implausibility are sky-high, and many of the narrative beats feel like things Hollywood action cinema has recycled countless times before. You will often know exactly where the story is heading long before it gets there.
But here is the thing: writer Derek Kolstad’s script is still ridiculously entertaining. And that is largely thanks to Bob Odenkirk. Odenkirk once again proves why he was such an unconventional yet brilliant choice for this franchise. The amount of physical preparation he put into the role is obvious, and the fact that he performed many of his own stunts adds an extra layer of authenticity to the madness unfolding onscreen. He brings exhaustion, sarcasm, frustration, and brutality together in a way that keeps the character “real” even when the action becomes completely absurd.
Alongside him, Connie Nielsen continues to light up the screen every time she appears, while Christopher Lloyd, John Ortiz, RZA, Colin Hanks, and the one and only Sharon Stone fully embrace the insanity and clearly enjoy every second of it.
Will it necessarily lead to a third film? Probably not. But for an hour and a half, it does exactly what it sets out to do: entertain you with relentless action, dark humour, and stylish chaos. And if you haven’t already – enjoy, and on to the next Odenkirk kick-ass film [Normal (2026)].
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