IR Film Review: DEN OF THIEVES 2 - PANTERA [Lionsgate]
The consistency of an old school action film depends on how seriously you take it and also what the expectation is. "Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera" is the second in another action franchise starring Gerard Butler who had settled in, comfortably and with producing credits, to a series of franchises that are lean and mean and deliver in many respects. The story and certain logic elements of course shift and go by the wayside but also depends on how much fun is being had. While the beginning starts off with stakes, as the movie unfurls, it becomes more about the essence of being tongue-in-cheek in full view. Butler is having a bit of fun and they get to hang in Nice, France (where they did shoot for some part of the fil,m). There is always a bigger fish and certain sequences key into that. The most fun of course is the actual heist (which may or may not use stunt doubles) as well as a car chase heading out of Nice (which is pretty well done and functions on the same aspect as the former). But in all seriousness much of this is second unit but when it matters, the A-team is there.
Some scenes really make no story sense as when the two leads go to get falafels after riding scooters and getting into fights. The reason for grudges and thwarting a heist comes up with jealousy over a girl. And when it is all said and done in certain ways it resets, which is sort of the point of any franchise base of this order. It just becomes though like a comedy of errors wrapped in slickness. What is interesting at certain points is that at moments Butler will bring a moment of gravitas into it and it does anchor it but it gives the film an uneven feel. Now granted this is not supposed to be something like "Plane". This is more freewheeling and I get it but even if made for a price, it feels a little shoddy, even with its slick cars and cool locations. O'Shea Jackson as Butler's nemesis/buddy gets the vibe of this kind of film just like his dad Ice Cube did. It is about finding the balance and getting the audience to come back and take the ride with you. The ride itself is a little longer in running time than one would expect but still gets the job done. B
By Tim Wassberg
