Jack Simon/Courtesy photo
I should have been a bank robber. I truly believe I missed my calling not being a bad boy with a heart of gold who charms those he’s ripping off with a wide smile and an undeniable brain made for figuring out safes and logistics. Alas, I am too afraid of my mother for a life of crime, so, instead, I write. “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” is the type of movie that sends you spiraling down thoughts like that.
An adrenaline-fueled heist film, it is an interesting, if not uninspired, collision of blockbuster Hollywood’s last three decades of influences. You get a solid mix of a Steven Sodenburg impression, a healthy sprinkle of Michael Mann influence, and oodles and oodles of superhero movie exposition monologuing.
It starts with one of those monologues, coming in the form of a VoiceOver alongside the opening scene. It provides unneeded information with lines that have been written into movies time and time again. Right away, it sets the film off to an awkward, boring start.
And it should never be boring! It’s an action movie! Why would you start your slick flick about the best bandits in the world who also coincidentally are the hottest people you have ever seen in your life with drawn-out rambling over our place in the world?
Voiceovers are hard enough to pull off in movies without looking amateurish. Often the hoity-toity, artsy-fartsy film types will degrade any director who elects to use it. Shockingly, I am not one of these folks. There are plenty of incredible films that use it, including my personal all-time favorite, “Big Wednesday.” When used right, it contextualizes the implicit, when used poorly, it force-feeds you the obvious in the most cloying way possible.
“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” falls into the latter category, especially when it only pops up once. Since it was the beginning, it should have been used as a setup; instead, it dragged us to nowhere.
But, director Christian Gudegast understands several key points he knows will always entice a viewer, even when all else fails. Firstly, audiences just love to watch people who are proficient in what they do. TikTok’s platform is almost entirely built on people you don’t know displaying their skills in tasks we (the audience) don’t understand. There is something deeply, inherently human about finding satisfaction in watching other humans be masterful in their chosen vocation.
Gudegast shoots his characters in their elements with such love that maybe deep down he wants to be a world-renowned thief, as well. After that god-forsaken opening voiceover is over, the film jumps straight into the action. It’s not done with loud noises and massive explosions; it’s done with cunning efficiency. The heist crew get in and get out with the diamonds without issue and without having to fire a single shot. Still, Gudegast manages to create tension in the scene where nothing goes wrong. I found myself sitting up and inching to the edge of my seat, even as it became clear this was just a warmup for this posse. It establishes the characters while giving them a bit of progression, even if you haven’t seen the first “Den of Thieves.”
Gudegast legitimizes himself and his characters by skipping over all the usual cliche pitfalls that make you roll your eyes during heist movies. When we see the crew assembled, there is no drawn-out sequence where we watch the leaders, Jovanna (Evin Ahmad) and Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), go round and round convincing everybody to do one last job for the biggest score of their lives. Instead, they’re pre-assembled with their identities easily explained, so the audience is back to focusing on that fascinating proficiency we were discussing earlier.
Moreover, the big “one of our own betrays” us twist is one you never see coming. It jumps out at you and breaks your heart. But, then “Den of Thieves: 2” becomes one of those many contemporary films that hang on for just a little too long. Instead of ending where the ending belongs, it drags on into an epilogue rather than letting go of its story. Eventually, the interesting moral quandary that was posed is thrown out.
“Den of Thieves: 2” is a decent flick that oscillates between atypical and typical. Unable to completely crawl out of its quagmire, eventually its grasps for greatness are pulled underneath the muck, and the movie is left to be forgotten.
Critic Score: 5.3 out of 10
Jack Simon is a mogul coach and writer/director who enjoys eating food he can’t afford, traveling to places out of his budget, and creating art about skiing, eating, and traveling while broke. Check out his website jacksimonmakes.com to see his Jack’s Jitney travelogue series. You can email him at [email protected] for inquiries of any type.
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