Major spoilers for “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” follow.
When “Den of Thieves” was released in 2018, many described it as a sort of cheap, dirty version of Michael Mann’s “Heat.” I also said more or less the same thing about the film – but I say it so lovingly. I’m a big fan of Den of Thieves, a movie about big men firing big guns and starring Gerard Butler as Big Nick O’Brien, a cop who always seems to be hungover no matter what time of day it is. Director Christian Gudegast’s film was often derivative (not only does it borrow heavily from “Heat,” but it also has a twist that was almost shamelessly lifted from “The Usual Suspects”), and yet it was also an absolute blast. I was excited when there was a sequel already announced in 2018And now that the sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, is here, I’m just as excited to see what comes next.
While a third film hasn’t been officially announced yet, Den of Thieves 2 ends in a way that leaves plenty of room for more. Over and beyond while speaking to ScreenRantGudegast said: “We are building a franchise so we have more space and time to explore these guys. We already have so much to do…” The implication is clear: there will be more Big Nick. Interestingly, Den of Thieves 2 changes the overall approach to this world of cops and robbers. Because if the first “Den of Thieves” felt like a scumbag “Heat,” then one might assume that “Den of Thieves 2” and possibly “Den of Thieves 3” are similar to the scumbag versions of “Fast and Furious.” Saga.
Den of Thieves 2 is an “epic buddy film”
I never cared much for it “Fast and Furious” series. I’ve tried to get into the movies several times, mostly because so many people I respect tell me they’re a lot of fun. But no matter how hard I try, I just can’t muster up the enthusiasm. Still, I respect the franchise’s world-building, creating a story about a group of crooks who band together like a family to take on increasingly ridiculous jobs. And by the end of Den of Thieves 2, it feels like this is exactly the approach Gudegast is going for.
In “Den of Thieves,” Butler’s Big Nick led a team of cops targeting a gang of bank robbers. Nick thought he had discovered the crooks by turning their getaway driver Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) into an informant. But by the time the film was over, the tide had turned. After a violent shootout that left several people dead, Nick discovered that Donnie was no easy driver – he was actually the mastermind who orchestrated the climax of the movie heist. He was also the only member of the gang to survive and fled to Europe with the loot.
In Den of Thieves 2, Donnie, still in Europe, has teamed up with a gang of thieves called the Panthers, led by Jovanna (Evin Ahmad). Donnie and the Panthers plan a massive robbery at the World Diamond Center in Antwerp, but the plan falls apart when Nick tracks down Donnie. However, Nick says he doesn’t want to arrest Donnie. Instead, he wants to take part in the score. From there, Nick joins the gang. He falls into a kind of ongoing flirtation with Jovanna and he and Donnie inexplicably become friends. “At its core, this film is a love story between a thief/gangster and a cop,” Gudegast says in the film’s production notes. “It’s an epic buddy film.”
I hope we get Den of Thieves 3
Over the course of the film, Nick becomes friends with both Donnie and the rest of the gang. Eventually they all succeed in the robbery and an exciting event occurs Shootout during the chase with some rivals. Just when you think everyone has gotten off clean, the film throws a (somewhat obvious) twist: Nick has been cooperating with local law enforcement the entire time and turns Donnie, Jovanna, and the rest of the gang over to the police. However, Nick feels guilty about it. He didn’t matter – Donnie and the gang really mattered to him. In the end, Nick teams up with an exiled gangster (Adriano Chiaramida) to break Donnie and the others out of prison. The implication is clear: Nick, Donnie and the rest of the team will reunite, presumably to commit more heists.
It’s a funny, surprisingly touching ending – Nick has found a family. It’s easy to see that a Fast and Furious-style situation is at play here. The Furious saga was ultimately about a lawman joining a group of criminals and growing to love them, and now Den of Thieves takes the same approach. I suppose you could argue that Den of Thieves 2 feels a little different than the first film. While there’s still plenty of violent, intense action, it almost feels like one more beautiful Movie – the friendship that develops between Nick and Donnie is sweet. While I think I like the first film a little better, Den of Thieves 2 is a blast in its own right, and by the time the credits rolled I was ready for more. If they want to keep making these movies and turn it into a sprawling, lower budget Fast and Furious style saga, I’ll happily keep watching them.
“Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” is in theaters now.
