The Equalizer 2

IN the first outing for Denzel Washington’s vigilante Robert McCall, he was working in an American DIY store that looked a bit like B&Q.

When we catch up with the super-tough special ops veteran, he is working as a driver for taxi app Lyft.

If his face popped up on your smartphone you would be extra careful with that fiddly location pin. But McCall isn’t doing this gig for tips. Lyft gives him a chance to patrol his neighbourhood and get close to the local low-lifes.

Sadly, it means the action-packed ending is not quite up there with the finale of the 2014 original where Denzel weaponised a bag of gravel while hunting down goons in his hardware store.

Here, returning director Antoine Fuqua cuts between several plots. When a CIA agent is killed in Paris, McCall suspects a sinister conspiracy. He is also keeping an eye on a talented young artist who is getting sucked into a life of crime, and having interesting interactions with punters in his cab.

The way the strands come together is predictable, but Denzel impresses, adding levels of shading to McCall that weren’t needed in Edward Woodward’s 80s TV series. • •

ANDY’S RATING: ★★ In cinemas on Friday

of moles Can be used to rake, scrape, dig or scoop Supplied as a pack of 2 pairs Dig and scoop only

plus FREE p&p