The Equalizer

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz

Duration: 132 minutes

Extra feature: Vengeance Mode



I was rather excited to watch this 2014 film, since it is a remake of the popular American TV show of the 80s. But this action flick failed to keep my attention.

In the film, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man with a mysterious past, who abandons it all for a cushy job and a life of quiet. But this quiet life is disrupted by a girl named Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), who is at the mercy of a violent Russian gang. Unable to stand by and do nothing, McCall decides to use his hidden fighting skills to help the helpless. Shaken out of his retired life with a will to ensure justice, McCall takes on a journey to defeat those in power to become The Equalizer.

While the concept is engaging and the action sequences kept me at the edge of my seat, the film felt jaded. There were a number of times when the film lost pace and I had to make an effort to focus on the goings on. Although the performances by Denzel Washington and Chloe Grace Moretz were great to watch, I didn’t feel they were enough to carry the film through to the end.
 

The special features that came as part of the DVD didn’t add much value either. While the Vengeance Mode feature was fun to watch as they decoded the high-octane action of the film, the interview featurettes could be skipped.

There’s not much to miss if you don’t add this film to your collection, unless you’re a Denzel Washington fan or really want to revisit The Equalizer TV show.