Review of ‘Equalizer 3’: Denzel Brings Quirky Uncle Vibes

This final installment may come across as fatigued, but Denzel Washington still demonstrates his exceptional talent for portraying a fascinating character who happens to be exceptionally skilled in the art of assassination. Photo: Stefano Montesi

Robert McCall, portrayed by Denzel Washington in three movies now, is an emblematic American action hero. Despite his retirement from the DIA, he continues to work at a hardware store, reminiscent of Home Depot, and also as a Lyft driver, simply to have something to occupy his time. He believes that violence is always the solution, despite occasional attempts to make amends for a life spent as a government assassin. In The Equalizer 3, after eliminating a group of villains in Sicily and suffering from blood loss aboard a ferry, Robert finds himself in the Amalfi Coast, Italy. In no time, he becomes part of an idyllic small town, where locals spend their days relaxing in the piazza, navigating the narrow streets, and enjoying authentic cuisine by the waterfront. It’s easy to understand why any weary American, accustomed to a life filled with big-box stores and gig work, would be charmed by the opportunity to while away the hours at an outdoor café instead of an all-night diner. To maintain this newfound contentment, Robert must eliminate several members of the Camorra who are terrorizing the town.

According to Antoine Fuqua, the director of all three Equalizer films, this third installment marks the conclusion of both his and Denzel Washington’s involvement in the series. It’s evident that the story has reached its limits, and crossing the Atlantic does little to remedy this. When your protagonist is an extraordinarily efficient killing machine, there’s little doubt about the outcome or his ability to succeed. The Equalizer 3 doesn’t even attempt to create suspense regarding Robert’s ability to confront the organized criminals who seek to seize local assets. The only question that remains is whether Robert will stay in Italy, where he discovers comfortable accommodations and forms connections with the generous doctor and a potential love interest. Fuqua employs a gray-blue color palette to accentuate the seriousness of the main character, but it fails to overshadow the breathtaking beauty of the film’s setting. At a certain point, after Robert recovers from his injuries and prepares to leave, one can’t help but scream, “No, for the love of God, why would you want to return to Boston?” Nevertheless, Robert’s presence is necessary to bring about justice on an international platform.

The Equalizer 3 possesses a tired lack of cohesion, which extends to a subplot involving a junior CIA agent portrayed by Dakota Fanning. This particular storyline could easily be removed without impacting the overall quality of the film, other than potentially reducing its runtime. However, the film succeeds due to Washington’s compelling performance and Fuqua’s enthusiasm for visceral action sequences. The Equalizer series falls within the thriving genre of older-man action films dominated by actors like Liam Neeson. Nonetheless, Washington portrays his character as a peculiar uncle who happens to excel in the art of murder. He makes endearingly quirky choices, such as biting his lip and scrunching his mouth, emphatically saying “touché” with an extra “T” at the end, and responding to Fanning’s revelation about his ghost-like online presence with a drawn-out “booOOOoo.” He doesn’t come across as someone seeking redemption after years of brutality, but rather as a local oddball searching for tranquility.

Unfortunately, peace is elusive, even though the motorcycle thugs who harass the locals and extort money from businesses put up minimal resistance. The mob bosses they report to fare no better, as they find themselves with broken bones protruding through their flesh and the barrels of their guns smashed into their eye sockets. The violence depicted in the film is gleefully exaggerated and paradoxically comical in how effectively it resolves conflicts. However, the most amusing aspect of The Equalizer 3 is that the ultimate goal of the Camorra is to intimidate individuals into surrendering their properties, enabling the gangsters to construct hotels, casinos, and other tourist-related establishments. In essence, Robert isn’t just fighting on behalf of the people in his idyllic Italian town; he inadvertently becomes the guardian of its unspoiled nature and resistance against development. It’s almost poetic how an American protagonist strives to achieve a picturesque life abroad, where he is the only outsider.