CLEVELAND, Ohio -- John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is such a legendary hit man that he once killed three Russian goons in a bar using only a pencil. If only he were so creative with his mayhem in the sequel "John Wick: Chapter 2."

Mostly, he just uses automatic weapons to mow down the army of assailants that seems to be waiting for him around every corner. And I mean every corner.

When last we left Mr. Wick, in the first movie, he was beset by sorrow due to the theft of his beloved Mustang car, and the death of his wife and dog. In that order. It sounds like the making of a great country-western song.

In this new entry, he is retired from the killing-people business and mostly spends time mourning the loss of his beautiful wife. He replaced the dog. This new dog is the dog with no name.

But an old colleague comes by with a request for Mr. Wick. Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), an Italian mobster, wants Wick to kill his sister so he can move up in the family business. Santino presents Wick with a metal coin called a marker. It contains a bloody thumbprint from the owner. It's a blood oath.

No assassin can refuse a marker from another assassin. It's some crazy rule they have. Wick makes the mistake of refusing the assignment, and Santino blows up his house.

Ian McShane plays Winston, the king lord of all assassins worldwide, who owns a hotel in New York City called the Continental. Wick goes to him for counsel on the marker thing. Winston tells Wick he must honor the marker and go kill Santino's sister in Rome. So off Wick goes.

A double-cross ensues, and soon Wick is back from Rome in New York seeking vengeance on Santino. The problem with this movie and others like it (the "XXX" series with Vin Diesel comes to mind) is the literal overkill.

The hero slaughters, with automatic weapons, wave after wave of nameless, faceless bad guys. It just all becomes, in the end, preposterous. And boring.

Twice in this film, Wick, not in a vehicle, gets hit by speeding cars. Both times, he gets up and brushes it off as if he had stubbed his toe. This is not good movie-making. This is cartoon violence, and it does not serve the action-movie-going experience. Less really is more in these instances.

"John Wick: Chapter 2" does have its moments. But far too few of them. A little judicious pruning in the action scenes would make for a far more entertaining film that might appeal beyond the 15-year-old-boy demographic.

And can someone please convince Keanu Reeves to ditch his 1970s parted-in-the-middle hairstyle? Also, he spends the entire movie walking around Rome and New York City in a black, three-piece Armani suit with blood specks running all over his face.

Going forward, can someone get the guy a handkerchief, please? A Kleenex? Something.

And don't forget the pencil. Wardrobe!

REVIEW

John Wick: Chapter 2

Who: With Keanu Reeves, Ruby Rose, Ian McShane, Common, John Leguizamo, Riccardo Scamarcio and Laurence Fishburne. Directed by Chad Stahelski. 

Rated: R.

Running time: 122 minutes.

When: Opens Friday.

Where: Area theaters.

Grade: C+

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