In nearly each respect, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is an enchancment on its 2018 predecessor. Eschewing a seedy, neo-noir aesthetic within the custom of Michael Mann in favor of the French Riviera, Pantera at instances seems like a trip film for Gerard Butler’s Nicholas “Massive Nick” O’Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Donnie Wilson. Seven years after the pair left their cat and mouse video games between thief and a imply cop with the thief having the higher hand, the sequel is mostly much more enjoyable as the 2 work in simpatico on the identical aspect in a sunny locale.
The very best stretches of Den of Thieves 2 are thus the scenes of Butler and Jackson simply vibing by the Mediterranean and doing their very own model of a buddy comedy even though this film is ostensibly about hardboiled robust guys with scruffy necks and awful alimony funds. The setup is Nick might (or might not) be tempted to hitch a giant heist Donnie’s received cooking, nevertheless it’s when the pair are simply having fun with their down time—and the film savoring their chemistry—that Den of Thieves 2’s bland machismo provides approach to real leisure.
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And one of the best bit is a shoutout Den makes towards Jackson’s household heritage and a lyric so iconic that it’s nonetheless quoted to at the present time in a film about cops and robbers.
The sequence in query happens on the midpoint after Nick’s confirmed up in Donnie’s swanky condominium overlooking the Good skyline. It’s right here Donnie is unconvincingly posing as a French financier who by no means speaks French. By some means this entrance has conned precise natives into entering into enterprise with him, and aroused the eye of Butler’s swaggering, hard-drinking and hard-partying “hunter” of criminals. By this time outdated Nick’s life is a correct shitshow too. The film begins with him in divorce court docket the place we rapidly confirm he has misplaced all custody to his kids. In the meantime he’s apparently been fired from the LAPD and (unbeknownst to Donnie) is doing a little tentative work for the Feds.
Nonetheless, he’s on the town and claiming a life on the straight and slim (with a number of curves alongside the best way) hasn’t paid shit. He desires in on Donnie’s racket. And incredulously he is ready to speak Donnie’s European associates into chopping him in. It’s all fairly ridiculous, nevertheless it results in moments the place throughout a rooftop midnight get together within the summertime, all of them are ingesting and rizzing up the native expertise whereas rightfully pissing off the close by Eurotrash.
It’s a enjoyable vibe that leans into Butler’s pure swagger of sweat and spittle. He taunts and flatters in equal measure different crooks in recent fits. One in all them isn’t satisfied of Nick’s newfound crookedness although. Smelling bacon virtually scorching off Nick’s wrinkled collar, he hisses in French that Nick’s “nonetheless police.”
“Man, fuck the police,” Butler retorts within the language of Voltaire.
In the event you missed the winking homage, relaxation assured Jackson’s Donnie doesn’t. Whereas he doesn’t fairly look instantly into the digicam and wink, he comes fairly shut as he pauses in recognition of this defamation of legislation enforcement, after which suppress a smile.
If you realize who his daddy is, you’re most likely smiling too, particularly since Jackson did such an uncanny job of enjoying him in Straight Outta Compton. Sure, that is Ice Dice’s child boy who has proved to be each bit as charismatic because the outdated man, in addition to a greater actor. He gave a completely nuanced efficiency as Dice within the 2015 musical biopic directed by F. Gary Grey. And also you higher consider the film featured complete subplots dedicated to the legacy of a tune titled “Fuck the Police.”
That tune first appeared on the Straight Outta Compton album launched in 1988 by N.W.A., the hip hop group Ice Dice rolled with between ’87 and ’91. Written as a protest anthem towards police brutality, the tune was accused of selling hostility towards cops by the powers-that-be; it was banned by radio stations; banned altogether from Australian airwaves by the censors; and acquired a strongly worded observe of disapproval from the FBI to N.W.A.’s report firm on the time which claimed it “misrepresented police.”
The tune’s additionally aged depressingly effectively contemplating it was launched earlier than Rodney King was severely overwhelmed by the LAPD in 1991, which the cultural upheaval from would sadly not mark the top of extreme drive and brutality getting used towards largely Black males within the U.S.
The lyrics additionally make for gag in Den of Thieves 2, a film that may intermittently work when it has enjoyable with its characters. If there’s a Den of Thieves 3, simply let Donnie and Nick start by munching on shawarma and go from there….
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is in theaters now.
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