The Equalizer

Where there is injustice, there is Denzel Washington kicking injustice in the booty, and we are cheering him on!

Washington stars as Robert McCall – a mysterious guy with a particular set of skills who just wants to live a quiet, easy life reading the greatest books of all time. He has settled into a nice routine working at a Boston home improvement superstore and helping those around him who need some coaching or inspiration. Everything is rather hum drum. Of course, that’s not possible for long because Robert believes in right and wrong, and he has seen something very wrong.

Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz) is a nice kid in a bad situation. She is controlled by the Russian Mob and forced to work as a prostitute, and Robert has had enough. He seeks retribution against those who mistreat Teri, but it is just the tip of the iceberg.

Robert has started a war with some powerful figures, and he intends to end it before they end him.

The Equalizer is the best movie of the week because we like Washington, and we revel in delight watching him kick some booty.

Without Washington, The Equalizer would be an average movie, but he makes the character come to life. He is intimidating and dangerous with his cool, steely resolve in the face of danger always promising to bring the bad guys to the house of pain without needing to yell hysterically about it. Washington has the perfect intensity to make the action feel explosive, even though director Antoine Fuqua intentionally wants The Equalizer to have a more subdued feel. He reminds us that real bad guys don’t need to prove it or talk about it.

Then, Washington has all of the charm in the world to make Robert likable and heroic. He seems like the life of the party and the nicest guy on the planet when confronted by good, honest people who want to live and let live. It makes the audience realize Robert is more than a stone cold killer. He is fighting for right and wrong. He’s Batman with a bit more pizzazz!

Writer Richard Wenk doesn’t do much but provide the basic roadmap from action scene to action scene, but no one is here for the script. The twists and turns can be a little too convenient at times, and the film drags early on as Fuqua seems to be struggling to pull together all of the elements, but you get the ending you want with the star you want at the center of it all.

The Equalizer even promises a sequel, and this could be the first time in many months I said that with welcome excitement.

The Equalizer is rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, including some sexual references.