Watch the SPOILER review on YouTube
A sequel that’s entertaining enough, but lacks the heart, exciting battles, and the Oscar-winning leading actor that make the first film so good. The basic plot is fine, but it’s borders on being a rehash of the first “Gladiator.” Even though that film also had the same overall story, it was elevated by Russell Crowe’s amazing performance. And while Paul Mescal is pretty good here, he just lacks the charisma to make his character engaging to the audience. On the other hand, Denzel Washington’s slick and conniving role is mesmerizing every moment he’s on screen. The film does capture the spectacle of ancient Rome, but the big arena battles mostly fall flat because they introduce some cool concepts, only to wrap up too quickly and none of them really payoff. Even the end of the movie doesn’t quite land. It just feels a little abrupt and anticlimactic, especially after nearly three hours spent telling this story.
**1/2 out of *****