Parents' Guide to The Equalizer 3

With lots of gorgeous scenery and Washington's ultra-cool performance, there's a lot to like about this sequel, but it's hard to deny that its energy flags. The Equalizer 3 starts out well, with its clever, brutal Sicily sequence, which viewers see after it's already happened. McCall getting caught off guard and his subsequent reaction lends some weight to the character, and his recovery in the beautiful village is a delight. (There's a special moment when, maneuvering a staircase with his cane, he encounters a sweet old lady, also with a cane, who cautions him to "go slowly.")

This peace is interrupted by villains -- and this time around, they are, very simply, flat and dull. These are evil mafia goons who are bent on hurting people for financial gain, with no gray areas to be found. It's not interesting, and as the movie ramps up for its big showdown, it becomes harder to care. Moreover, whereas the first two Equalizer movies had brilliantly staged final showdowns with clever uses of space, The Equalizer 3 simply takes place in the villain's house, with nothing special happening; it looks like any other sequence. Oscar-winner Robert Richardson showcases beautiful cinematography from time to time, especially in the glittering nighttime shots, but ultimately this third entry leaves off on a vaguely dissatisfying note, as if the series went one sequel too far.