Christian Gudegast returns to the Den of Thieves world with Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Where the first film was a smaller contained Los Angeles-based crime story, this one is an international caper. The first film in the series was a fun if not flawed heist movie and the sequel unfortunately suffers from many of the same issues.

Den of Thieves 2 has some great action sequences but is bogged down by a convoluted story and a long middle section. Once the film does find its footing, it delivers an epic finale that’s worth the price of admission. That’s great for a modestly budgeted 40 million dollar film. It’s just a shame it takes the film almost two hours to get to the good stuff.

Den of Thieves

The first Den of Thieves released in 2018 and followed loose cannon cop “Big Nick” Obiren played by Gerard Butler. O’Brien engages in a cat-and-mouse game with a highly technical group of thieves made up of former MARSOC Marines. It’s an interesting concept and one that worked fairly well on screen. The biggest issue, and the one they fixed here, was Butler’s portrayal of a renegade cop.

In 2018 you could maybe get away with having a bad cop as your hero. Maybe. However, in a post-2020 America, there is no way that the character of “Big Nick” would fly with American audiences. Butler in the first film is an extremely unlikable hero. He goes to superbly unethical lengths in service of his job from cheating on his wife with strippers to literally torturing suspects. It was rough to watch in 2018 and downright appalling now. But Den of Thieves 2 wisely decides to tone down O’Brian’s more manic traits. Making him a fun-loving rouge rather than a borderline psychopath.

Turning Heel

The big twist that’s spoiled in the trailers is that this time O’Brian is one of the baddies. Fed up with his failed marriage and parsley LASD salary, Big Nick decides he’s going on Donnie Wilson’s next heist. The sole survivor of the previous film’s Federal Reserve robbery.

O’Shea Jackson Jr is back as Donnie Wilson and he delivers the same performance we’ve come to expect from the famed rapper’s son. He’s not terrible but he’s never great. This role requires him to don a British accent, one that wouldn’t fool anyone in the film. Still, Jackson is doing an admirable job co-leading this film, and is fun enough to watch on screen.

Familiar Territory

Den of Thieves 2 is almost the same movie as the film that came before. Sure, the narrative is different, but the pacing and plot beats are almost identical. The film begins with a flashy heist sequence before turning into a long convoluted story about the crew’s next score. The biggest twist is Gerard Butler’s heel turn, but it takes about an hour before that reveal hits. It’s another solid forty minutes of planning and exposition before we get to see the heist proper. And by that time, you’d be forgiven for being confused about what they are all after and why.

When the heist finally does begin, the film becomes exponentially more exciting. Gudegast began his career directing music videos, and he has a knack for shooting stylish intense sequences. The heist itself and the ensuing car chase sequence are heart-pounding and deliver on the film’s initial build-up. It’s just a shame it takes so long for us to get there.

Character Arcs

The opening sequence and final act of the film are stellar. But we spend so much time in between the action that it becomes tedious. There are various plot points presented during this section that either go nowhere or feel unnecessary. There is a long sequence of Butler and Jackson’s characters bonding after Big Nick decides to break bad. This scene is essential to build their arcs, but it goes on entirely too long and involves three location changes. This beat also sets up a strange love interest for Gerard Butler that never concludes and feels entirely forced.

It’s fun to watch the two leads play off each other, but their chemistry works better when there is tension between them. When they are drunkenly riding scooters around the city, all the stakes seem to fade away. Their relationship goes from DeNiro and Pacino in Heat to Farley and Spade in Tommy Boy too quickly, hindering the tension of the film.

International Heists

Where the film does beat its predecessor are the gorgeous locations. The first film was entirely set in Los Angeles where Den of Thieves 2 is mostly set in France. This location provides a gorgeous backdrop for the film and adds a pop of color to the screen that was missing from the first.

The first Den of Thieves felt hot and grimy. Den of Thieves 2 bright color grading and beach locations give the film a lighter tone with wider appeal. Some of this I’m sure is due to the seven years between films with gritty cop-focused crime scripts not exactly flying off the shelves. All of this though works in the film’s favor, making it closer to Michael Bay’s Ambulance than Michael Mann’s Heat.

Epic Conclusions

Den of Thieves 2 is not a film or franchise I think anyone was clamoring for. The first film was good, not great, and the sequel is more of the same. It’s a fine time at the movies, but not a movie that will be rewatched and beloved for years to come.

Still, I’m happy to see films like this get a theatrical release if not for the epic practical stunts the team pulled off in the film’s finale. Too many big-budget action movies are getting shipped off to Netflix or Apple, and it’s good to see films like this get a life at the theater. Den of Thieves 2 isn’t the best action crime thriller in years, but it’s a pretty good one. And that’s exactly what I want from a $40 million dollar movie.