When a sequel to an action-heist movie comes along, you expect at least two things: tension and excitement. Unfortunately, writer / director Christian Gudegast‘s “Den of Thieves: Pantera” delivers neither. Clocking in at an excruciating two and a half hour runtime, this bloated follow-up to the surprisingly decent 2018 original feels like a lesson in how to stretch a thin plot far beyond its limits. What could have been an engaging thriller / buddy action flick ends up as a mind-numbing movie that’s devoid of all entertainment and fun, which makes it feel like a massive disappointment.
Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. reprise their roles, but this time around, they seem to have left their energy and enthusiasm behind. Butler’s Big Nick is a caricature of the gruff cop stereotype, only now with even more grizzled mumbling and zero charisma. Meanwhile, Jackson’s Donnie feels like he’s sleepwalking through the script. The chemistry between these two leads is practically non-existent and with both actors phoning it in, there’s no one to root for or invest in. Their characters’ relationship looks good on paper, but doesn’t translate well here.
The plot is nonsensical in all the wrong ways, too. The film attempts to weave a convoluted web involving jewel thieves, a European mafia known as the Panther gang, and a heist at a major diamond exchange, but the stakes never feel real nor risky because the story fails to build any suspense or tension. Instead of ramping up toward an exciting climax, the movie drags through endless scenes of dull dialogue and pointless subplots that go nowhere. There’s far too much talking and exposition for what should have been a straightforward action movie, and I was irritated to have invested so much time in the story only to be letdown with a lackluster finale.
After sitting through all that tedium, be warned that the much-anticipated heist is shockingly bland and uninspired. For a movie that markets itself around an epic and highly skilled burglary, it’s disappointing how underwhelming the payoff is. The set piece lacks creativity, urgency, or any clever twists, leaving you wondering why you wasted so much time waiting for something worthwhile.
Gudegast’s direction feels is competent but apathetic. The cinematography is flat, the pacing is sluggish, the action scenes are boring, and the film lacks any visual flair to keep things engaging. There’s no grit or edginess that is so desperately needed, just a generic, uninspired attempt to recapture the charm of its predecessor. Where the original “Den of Thieves” had a raw energy and a creative plot, this sequel feels like a hollow imitation that’s devoid of thrills or drama. Even die-hard fans of the first movie will struggle to find anything to enjoy here.
“Den of Thieves: Pantera” let me down on so many levels.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 