Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera Review: I Was Hoping For Dumb Fun, But It’s Just Dumb

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In my view, Christian Gudegast’s “Den Of Thieves” (2018) didn’t resonate deeply with my personal tastes, but it managed to keep an unbiased perspective for the upcoming sequel, as I entered it with a hopeful outlook. Despite finding most characters unappealing in the original release, I was able to follow along due to the familiar structure of a heist movie. Surprisingly, I found the 2-hour runtime rather easy to sit through.

Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera

Launch Date: July 10, 2025

In the Director’s Chair: Christian Gudegast

Screenplay By: Christian Gudegast

Lead Performers: Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito, Meadow Williams, and Swen Temmel

Rated: R for frequent use of strong language, instances of violence, drug content, and sexual themes.

Running Time: 144 minutes

I walked into “Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera” expecting more of the familiar, but ended up feeling let down. Despite my continued dislike for all the characters, both old and new, the movie fell short in terms of its plot. It may have attempted to spice things up with a different backdrop and a new target, but the storyline it presented was less captivating and thrilling compared to the original. This lackluster narrative took away the fun from the film, making it a tedious watch instead.

In the sequel, Gerard Butler reprises his role as Nick O’Brien, who continues his pursuit of Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), whom he lost in the wake of the Federal Reserve incident from the first film. Upon hearing news of an armed robbery at an airplane hangar in Antwerp, Nick suspects Donnie’s involvement and follows this hunch to Nice, France where his suspicions are validated. Breaking into the criminal’s apartment, Nick makes threats and brandishes a retired U.S. Marshals badge, but instead of arranging for extradition, he declares that his days as a law enforcement officer are over and expresses his desire to join Donnie’s gang, the Panthers, for their upcoming job – the burglary of a diamond vault.

I find myself thrust into the thick of things with my adversary-turned-ally, as we navigate our way through his questionably moral associates, all bent on uncovering a hidden fortune. It’s not just about that goal, though. As a former officer, I’ve managed to upset two of the crew members, turning them into adversaries. To add fuel to the fire, it’s revealed that Donnie swiped a valuable diamond from the mafia during the hangar job and now we must retrieve it.

Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera underwhelms with bland characters and an uninspired plot.

The continuation of “Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera” relies on the appeal of the ongoing confrontations between the unconventional detective and the cunning thief. However, if you didn’t find the characters in the original movie particularly appealing, A) you’re unlikely to change your mind while watching the sequel, and B) you may not find much enjoyment in the supporting cast. The characters lack development or depth, and the heist genre, which usually offers intriguing personalities with unique skills, fails to deliver in this instance.

The movie introduces an innovative angle for Nick and Donnie’s relationship, which is reminiscent of the friendship dynamic from the Fast & Furious series (borrowed straight from their playbook). However, the only truly original aspect is their common objective. The character previously depicted as a lawbreaker isn’t too far removed from his introduction in the first film: a troubled man, an alcoholic, a womanizer who strains family ties and challenges any form of authority. As for Donnie, the intriguing element from the previous tale – his role as a secretive mastermind hinted at in the final moments (similar to Keyser Soze Lite) – remains unexplored in this sequel, leaving him defined merely as a clever crook.

In “Den Of Thieves 2,” there’s not much variety in the characters, which isn’t unexpected given that the first film had the same issue. I was hoping for some entertaining conflicts between clever tech whizzes, precise safecrackers, and so on, but unfortunately, this series hasn’t delivered on that front twice now. The Panthers’ team lacks distinct personalities or standout abilities, which makes the movie less engaging.

There is a complete failure by the film to take advantage of its European setting.

In its use of setting, there appears to be a comparable lack of effort, as if the movie Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera doesn’t fully embrace the opportunity to alter flavors when shifting action from downtown Los Angeles to Southern France. While one might anticipate a change in atmosphere, the film only lightly jokes about the protagonist’s pronunciation of “croissant.” The production design, cinematography, and set pieces lack any distinctive geographical characteristics, creating an impression of an attempt to superficially expand the world’s scale. Upon deeper thought, this aspect of the film also turns out to be rather shallow.

Expecting much from a movie released in January can often be a waste of time, as it’s known as a time when studios offload their less promising films – yet even with lowered expectations, Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera falls short. I was hoping for some mindless entertainment, but what I received was just mindlessness, and it doesn’t bode well for a second sequel that the film’s conclusion clearly hints at.

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2025-01-13 10:37