Gerard Butler reappears in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, bringing back his intense character, Nick Energy. This follow-up to the 2018 movie Den of Thieves finds Butler as Sheriff Nick O’Brien, pursuing master thief Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), who was last seen robbing the Federal Reserve. In this installment, Donnie and his crew plan to rob the world’s largest diamond exchange. While the original movie draws inspiration from Michael Mann’s Heat, writer/director Christian Gudegast intends to create an original sequel with Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. However, the sequel fails to match the quality of the original.
a group of individuals, each possessing unique abilities, join forces to pull off an impossible heist. However, the Den of Thieves series seems to overemphasize the seriousness, opting to deviate from this standard formula. Regrettably, the movie doesn’t offer much enjoyment, providing few moments of thrill or exhilaration.
As a gamer, I’d say: In the sequel, Gudegast sets the stage for where our characters find themselves post the first movie’s climax. Big Nick is grappling with hard times, but his scenes lack the emotional punch compared to those in the first film involving his wife and daughter. Though we understand why he joins forces with Donnie, I found myself detached from his struggles due to his character not being overtly likable. The introduction is tedious, and the movie lacks humor, even when it tries to inject some life into the dialogues.
As a gamer, I’d say: The movie drags on until it finally throws Big Nick and Donnie into the same room. That’s when things start getting interesting because it’s not every day you see the “hero” and “villain” from the first game forced to work together. It’s an unexpected twist, making me lean forward in my seat. It takes a full hour for the scene to feel engaging, but when Big Nick and Donny start sharing a few illicit substances, their bonding moment finally brings the movie to life.
Despite an initial effort to delve into the characters’ backgrounds, the narrative doesn’t pick up pace quickly enough. While the scenes offering insight into their pasts are engaging, they seem to serve more as a reminder of their humanity rather than playing a significant role in the unfolding heist plot. Instead of simultaneously progressing both story and character development, the film appears to prioritize character development at the expense of narrative momentum. This could be one reason for the film’s lengthy runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes, making it feel sluggish like its predecessor, Den of Thieves 1.
One crucial aspect that makes a great heist movie is the level of risk or significance at play, often referred to as the stakes. However, this particular film seems to lack that element, leaving us uncertain about what’s truly at stake for the characters. While there are moments of high tension, nothing stands out enough to leave a lasting impression. The third act appears to be the movie’s strongest point, but unlike the first Den of Thieves where the excitement was constant once the heist began, this film seems less consistent. There are exhilarating scenes, but also instances where the action slows down.
In this movie, the secondary characters and antagonists lack excitement and are rather unmemorable. While there is one scene revealing their music preferences, they fail to make a lasting impression. The film’s plot doesn’t stand out significantly compared to other heist movies you might have watched. It seems like a generic rehash of familiar heist movie themes. Although there are moments that create tension, these instances are brief. Even the climactic car chase and shootout towards the end has its entertaining aspects, but the direction sometimes falters. A notable example is a stunt where a car appears to leap off the highway into the ocean; however, the shot is so distant that it fails to convey the intended intensity.
To delve deeper, when Big Nick and Donnie form an alliance, their bond doesn’t evolve as expected in a thrilling heist movie. I yearn for a complex relationship between them, filled with doubt, trust, and tension, wondering if they will ultimately betray each other. Yet, once the heist commences, their interactions are minimal. They function like colleagues, neither particularly well nor poorly. It seems that Gudegast, an adept filmmaker, struggles to balance story progression and character development simultaneously. One aspect appears to halt when the other gains momentum. The climax aims for emotional impact, but unfortunately, it overstays its welcome, concluding a rather underwhelming heist adventure.
SCORE: 4/10
According to ComingSoon’s review policy, a score of 4 signifies “Poor.” This means that the negative points overshadow the good ones, making it challenging to finish.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Den of Thieves 2: Pantera review.
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2025-01-10 17:40