The Equalizer 3 Review: A Disappointing Finale

05.09.2023 - 08:29 / comingsoon.net / Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall in. Director Antoine Fuqua caps his trilogy of action thrillers centered around a vigilante with a mysterious past. The new movie sees McCall finding a home in Southern Italy, but trouble soon finds him as he finds himself face-to-face with the Mafia. The first Equalizer movie was a surprise hit, and the second one wasn’t as good, but it had its moments. Unfortunately, the third Equalizer movie is the weakest in the series. The Equalizer 3 is yet another example of diminishing returns.

What has been the best part of every Equalizer movie? The answer is easy: Denzel Washington. He is an incredible actor. He’s one of those rare actors who can say anything, and you believe every word from his mouth. When playing a character as intimidating as McCall, Washington has always had an interesting approach. He does not need to raise his voice to be intimidating. His quiet, assured confidence is what makes him the most terrifying person in the room. An invulnerable character like this can sometimes be boring to watch because we know he will win every fight. However, Washington’s grounded performance makes him captivating to watch.

The opening sequence of The Equalizer 3 kicks off what seems like a hard-R action movie dripping with blood. There have always been a few gnarly kills in this series, and the opening scene gives a few excellent ones. However, after that, the movie slows down quite a bit. Every Equalizer movie has had issues with its plotting and pacing. The first two movies are great when the action is happening, but a few of the moments in between take far too long, particularly with the abundance of subplots. This movie continues that trend, starting out with an action sequence that gets McCall to his setting for the rest of the film. Afterward, the film stalls as he settles down and enjoys his life in this town.

Meanwhile, bad guys are popping up everywhere, disturbing McCall’s peace. During the scenes where the villains are doing their thing, The Equalizer 3 can be investing. It spends a good amount of time making the audience hate them so that you can cheer for their downfall. However, the rest does not work as well. McCall is a passive protagonist for much of the film. His most significant action in the movie’s first half is calling a woman named Emma, played by Dakota Fanning. This is Washington’s and Fanning’s first on-screen reunion since 2004’s Man on Fire.

However, Fanning’s character is boring and one-note. She does not have a lot to do in this movie. It feels as if The Equalizer 3 is grasping at straws in an attempt to give her and Frank (David Denman) anything to do. Their characters mainly exist for expository purposes. By the time the movie