Gerard Butler Action Sequel ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ Lands Surprising Rotten Tomatoes Score

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Does the action movie franchise led by Idris Elba consistently deliver pulse-pounding entertainment? However, is the new installment of the series, titled “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera“, a worthy contribution to the genre? In this sequel, Detective Nicholas “Big Nick” O’Brien, portrayed by Elba, strays from his righteous path and teams up with the antagonist from the 2018’s “Den of Thieves”, O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s character Donnie Wilson, a conman and thief, for a daring diamond heist in Europe. The action sequel has received reviews, with “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” earning a score of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. Interestingly, this score significantly surpasses that of its predecessor which stood at 41%. Let’s delve into the critics’ opinions…

Initially, we find ourselves in the company of Greg Archer from MovieWeb, who showered appreciation upon the presence of Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. However, his overall sentiment was that the movie exerted an excessive effort to embody the essence of a timeless heist film.

It’s great that Butler and Jackson will return to their roles, which is excellent news. However, the director’s determination to label this film as a classic heist movie, regardless of circumstances, raises some doubts. This movie seems to aspire to be similar to 1969’s The Italian Job, combined with elements from 2001’s Heist, and infused with aspects of 1981’s Thief and 1995’s Heat. Unfortunately, the overall atmosphere appears forced and overly lengthy, running for approximately two and a half hours.

Regardless, “Den of Thieves 2: Panthera” delivers ample entertainment for those who appreciate action, thrillers, and heists. Moreover, it hints at potential future instalments as well.

To express it personally, Den of Thieves resonates with me as it echoes the dynamic storytelling style reminiscent of Michael Mann and David Mamet. Once the foundation is laid – introducing characters Big Nick and Donnie – Gudegast’s script masterfully portrays their evolving partnership as they navigate a fresh wave of ruthless criminals, all while staying alive in the process. The film excels with a blend of thrilling action scenes and palpable suspense. However, it seems that the filmmakers’ ambitious plan to create a more intricate heist storyline and potentially launch another action franchise results in the narrative feeling somewhat burdened at times.

‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ Hits Theaters on January 10, 2025

Critic Owen Gleiberman from Variety highly appreciates Christian Gudegast’s directing style, stating that although Gudegast doesn’t worry much about making things seem plausible, he is an exciting filmmaker. He effectively maintains the intense fistfights and has a knack for highlighting Butler’s talents. Meanwhile, Pete Hammond from Deadline finds the sequel to be perfectly suited for the reliable and rugged Butler, and considers it a decent enough follow-up to an original that wasn’t overly original. Hammond believes this installment is more effortlessly enjoyable due to its captivating locations and star power.

In a less favorable review, Mae Abdulbaki from Screen Rant praised the attempt in Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, but found that its attempts were unsuccessful, stating, “The film lacks the intended impact,” further explaining, “It contains fewer action sequences, which could be beneficial as it heightens anticipation for the heist and its consequences, yet it also features more dialogue. Compared to the first movie, this sequel seems more polished and refined. However, it shares the same issue of being underwhelming, falling short of expectations despite an engaging premise.

In a stark contrast, Christian Zilko from indieWire believes that “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” is bucking trends and poised to become one of the year’s most entertaining new releases within the first 240 hours of 2025.

In the sequel, Christian Gudegast, both writer and director of the original film, once again takes the helm for more exhilarating heist action. The main characters are portrayed by Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr., with additional roles filled by UFC fighter Michael Bisping (known from “Den of Thieves” and “xXx: Return of Xander Cage”), Salvatore Esposito (“Fargo”), Orli Shuka (“All the Old Knives”, “Gangs of London”), Evin Ahmad (“Snabba Cash”, “Who Is Erin Carter?”), Cristian Solimeno (“The English”), and Nazmiye Oral (“Sleepers”). A sneak peek of the film can be found in a newly released clip, and for more information, you can read the official synopsis for “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” below.

In the follow-up to the 2018 action-heist movie Den of Thieves, Gerard Butler (known for Plane and the Has Fallen series) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (renowned for Straight Out of Compton and Godzilla: King of the Monsters) resume their roles. In Den of Thieves: Panther, character Big Nick, played by Butler, is once again on the case in Europe, pursuing Donnie, portrayed by Jackson, who finds himself entangled in the dangerous and volatile world of diamond thieves and the notorious Panther mafia, as they prepare to pull off a grand heist at the globe’s largest diamond exchange.

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2025-01-10 17:01