Den of Thieves 2 : Pantera

When a sequel arrives, it often carries the weight of expectations set by its predecessor, and in the case of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, that burden is particularly heavy. Den of Thieves had found its audience by blending the street intensity of Heat with a slightly exaggerated machismo that gave it a unique charm. The sequel tries to move up a gear, swapping the grimy streets of Los Angeles for locations in Europe, notably France, and while the ambition to evolve is laudable, it often feels like Den of Thieves 2: Pantera sacrifices the raw energy that made the first film memorable.

A few years after Donnie Wilson (O'Shea Jackson Jr.) foiled the plans of Big Nick O'Brien (Gerard Butler) and seized a fortune, the sequel transports us to Europe. Donnie Wilson has joined a high-powered team of international thieves, the Panthers, led by the cold and calculating Jovanna (Evin Ahmad). Meanwhile, Big Nick, a disgraced ex-cop struggling to get by, tracks Donnie down in France with a bold, if unlikely, proposal: join forces and organize a heist targeting the world's largest diamond exchange. The premise is intriguing: a cop-turned-criminal plot that promises tension, uneasy alliances and dramatic stakes.

However, much of this potential vanishes in the execution. While Den of Thieves 2: Pantera strives to create a more cosmopolitan thriller atmosphere, with scenes shot in prestigious locations such as Nice and Antwerp, it loses much of the visceral immediacy that characterized its predecessor. Den of Thieves thrived on the depiction of morally ambiguous characters clashing in a concrete jungle, where every confrontation felt like a powder keg ready to explode. By contrast, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera seems too polished, too rehearsed and ultimately too detached to generate the same level of suspense.

One of the most glaring problems is the pacing. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera indulgently lasts 130 minutes (running time in France), a length that seems excessive given the amount of filler scenes. The narrative often loses its way, focusing on interminable moments that neither deepen our understanding of the protagonists nor create any significant tension. For example, a lengthy nightclub sequence featuring Big Nick on ecstasy - complete with grinding, awkward flirting and an impromptu scooter race - feels more like a bizarre detour than a necessary plot development. While it's supposed to show Nick's descent into the criminal life and perhaps add a touch of levity, it instead highlights the film's tonal incoherence.

This inconsistency extends to the character dynamics. Gerard Butler's portrayal of Big Nick is once again a strong point, his sardonic wit providing welcome entertainment. Yet the character seems less convincing this time around. Gone is the relentless, morally dubious cop of the first film; in his place is a man who seems to lack direction, both in his life and in his narrative purpose. The bromance between Nick and Donnie, which should have been a central source of tension and intrigue, seems ill-prepared. The script hints at a complex relationship, where mutual respect and underlying distrust coexist, but it never takes full advantage of this dynamic. Instead, their interactions are often reduced to superficial banter and forced camaraderie.

O'Shea Jackson Jr. fares a little better, bringing a gentle charisma to Donnie that contrasts well with Gerard Butler's gruff demeanor. However, Donnie's character arc suffers from a lack of clear motivation. In the first film, he was a cunning mastermind playing a long con; here, he seems more reactive, driven by external pressures rather than internal goals. Even Jovanna, played by Evin Ahmad with steely good looks, doesn't have enough screen time or character development to leave a lasting impression. She's positioned as a key player in the heist, but her role ultimately seems more decorative than central.

When the film finally gets around to the heist, things accelerate considerably. The sequence is well executed, with tight choreography, clever gadgets and genuine moments of tension. The team's methodical approach to bypassing the diamond exchange's formidable security systems evokes the classic heist films of yesteryear, and there's a palpable sense of danger when things inevitably go wrong. Yet even this twist isn't grand because of its predictability. Unlike the first film, which offered a genuinely surprising twist, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera telegraphs its moves too clearly, robbing the finale of any real shock value.

Comparisons with Den of Thieves are inevitable, and this is where Den of Thieves 2: Pantera really fails. The first film, while far from perfect, had a beaten-dog quality that made it endearing. It knew exactly what it wanted to be: a gritty, testosterone-fueled action thriller with just enough narrative ambition to keep things interesting. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, on the other hand, gives the impression of trying to be something more sophisticated without fully committing to that vision. The result is a film that's caught between two identities - too polished to be gritty, but too shallow to be truly intelligent.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is a mixed bag. It has moments of genuine entertainment, particularly when Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr share the screen, but it lacks the coherent energy and narrative drive that made the first film a cult success. The film's ambition to broaden its scope and go international is admirable, but ambition alone isn't enough. Without the raw intensity and tight narrative of its predecessor, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera looks like a heist movie that got lost on the way to the vault.

For fans of the first film, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera may still offer enough to justify a viewing, if only to see Gerard Butler in top form as the delightfully unhinged Big Nick. But for those waiting for a worthy successor to Den of Thieves, this sequel is more a pale imitation than a true continuation. Let's hope that, should a third installment see the light of day, it will learn from the missteps of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera and get back to what this franchise does best: offering unabashed thrills, with a hint of bastard charm.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Written and directed by Christian Gudegast
Based on Characters by Christian Gudegast, Paul Scheuring
Produced by Tucker Tooley, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Mark Canton, O'Shea Jackson Jr.
Starring Gerard Butler, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito, Meadow Williams, Swen Temmel
Cinematography : Terry Stacey
Edited by Roberth Nordh
Music by Kevin Matley
Production companies: eOne Features, Tucker Tooley Entertainment, G-BASE, Diamond Film Productions
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), Metropolitan FilmExport (France)
Release date : January 8, 2025 (France), January 10, 2025 (United States)
Running time : 130 minutes

Seen on January 8, 2025 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 5 seat A18

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