The Equalizer - C-

Rated R, 131 minutes
Wes's Grade: C-

Denzel Washington

"The Equalizer" is a modestly entertaining but shallow, unoriginal crime drama

Denzel Washington is an Academy-Award winning actor whose trademark has been playing the anti-hero, good-bad guys who ultimately try to do the right thing. That's also the premise of Washington's derivative, vapid new crime and revenge tale "The Equalizer," and he reteams with his "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua. There are some terrific moments, but Washington seems to be going through the motions and the story lacks originality or any subtlety. Robert McCall (Washington), a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can't stand idly by - he has to help her and is armed with hidden desire for justice and skills that allow him to serve vengeance in his own unique way. Based on the superior TV show of the same name, "The Equalizer" is a mediocre, shallow crime drama, hampered by its chauvinistic qualities (Washington literally comes into save the day for a young girl, well-played by Grace Moretz) and the fact that Washington is too old and paunchy for the role. Washington could do himself some favors with his career by playing a light romantic comedy or an indie film, neither of which he does frequently at all. Much like Johnny Depp and now Melissa McCarthy, he finds himself in the same type of film roles, though his career is in a better position than Depp and McCarthy's seems to be getting started. "The Equalizer" has some decent moments and the character is really quite good at what he does, but down the stretch it's too calculated and its strokes are painted too broadly, and decent actors like Bill Pullman and Oscar-winner Melissa Leo are wasted. With "The Equalizer," you get exactly what you expect, which is violence and a decent turn by Washington, though it could've have been considerably better with another actor and director. Go if you must, but if you've seen Washington's other films, you've seen this one too.