‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ Review: Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. in a Numbing Sequel

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Picture an extended version of the well-known diner conversation between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, as portrayed in Michael Mann’s film “Heat”, and you’ll have a notion of what “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” might be like.

Indeed, Christian Gudegast’s follow-up to his 2018 heist thriller offers an impressive action sequence. However, this exhilarating car chase/gunfight, set in a tunnel and along winding mountain roads, is positioned quite late in the film, appearing around the two-hour mark of this equally lengthy sequel’s 144-minute duration. Prior to this, much of your viewing time is spent observing characters savoring the European backdrops through indulging in numerous croissants, gelato, and tiny cups of coffee.

Watching Gerard Butler, playing the hard-boiled cop “Big Nick” O’Brien again, stumble over the correct pronunciation of the word “croissant” is one of the intriguing aspects of this movie. Despite being predictable and well-made, it stands out due to a twist from its predecessor: Big Nick is now after Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), who was revealed as the mastermind behind the Federal Reserve heist in the last film. Since that incident, Big Nick’s life has fallen apart; his career and personal appearance have deteriorated significantly. The movie introduces him in a rather blunt manner, with a scene showing him attending to his needs at a urinal, which reflects the film’s approach to character development.

however, Nick’s initial enthusiasm for solving crimes re-emerges when he learns about a diamond theft from a hangar in Belgium, suspecting it to be the handiwork of his longtime adversary. Somehow, he manages to join a French police unit, nicknamed Pantera, which is tracking down the notorious Panthers – a skilled gang of jewel thieves that Donnie has allied with. Nick’s journey takes him to France, where he stands out like a sore thumb as the most obvious fish-out-water cop since Gene Hackman’s character Popeye Doyle in French Connection II.

In the meantime, disguised as a diamond dealer, Donnie sells the stolen jewels, including a large pink diamond once owned by a powerful mafia boss known as “The Octopus”, at an international diamond market, which is actually the gang’s main objective. Helping him in this endeavor is Jovanna, the female leader of the Panthers, played by Evin Ahmad, adding a touch of femininity to the predominantly masculine atmosphere. Unfortunately for Donnie, the pink diamond doesn’t sit well with “The Octopus”, who becomes enraged at its disappearance and demands his henchmen retrieve it, no matter the cost.

The central plot point in this version is that Nick convinces Donnie to join him in a criminal endeavor, which results in numerous bonding scenes between the two unlikely friends. These moments include sharing hardships like swimming ashore after being thrown off a ship by hostile mobsters. However, the unusual partnership, as Nick calls it, fails to live up to its potential, with the actors not creating a strong enough “bro” dynamic to maintain our interest for the full duration of the film.

Gudegast, the director, showcases an impressive knack for creating thrilling heist scenes, though some sequences, including the climactic one and others throughout the movie, tend to drag on excessively. The majority of the film is marred by prolonged periods of boredom, such as the disco scene where Nick indulges in hashish and engages in suggestive dancing with Jovanna, which doesn’t sit well with her ex-boyfriend, leading to violent confrontation. Later, Nick seemingly brushes off the incident by sharing a late-night meal of shawarma with Donnie, one of numerous scenes in the film where characters are seen dining, perhaps making craft services superfluous.

One of Nick’s fellow officers questions if the case isn’t already resolved by this point,” speculates early on, a thought that might cross the minds of viewers as the movie drags out excessively. Butler skillfully uses his raw charm to good advantage, though he shines brighter in the Has Fallen series and unexpectedly entertaining films like Plane. However, Jackson appears to struggle, portraying a character that seems less menacing and more submissive than anticipated.

In the sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Panthera, an unexpected bond between the principal characters is reinforced through a finale that might seem illogical, yet effectively paves the way for the foreseeable subsequent chapter.

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2025-01-10 03:54