The Equalizer (2021)
A few weeks ago Hawk and I started watching the 2021 reboot of The Equalizer. This new version stars Queen Latifah as ex-CIA operative Robyn McCall (a slight play on name of Robert McCall, the fictional lead of the original, portrayed by Edward Woodward), the person you call when the odds are against you and you've got nowhere else to turn.
This show varies from the late 1980s original in a few ways. First, obviously, the title character is a woman.
Second, there are a lot of supporting characters.
I had misgivings going into this show. Would Queen Latifah have the acting range to pull off the character of McCall believably? It turns out she has acting chops to spare. She glides easily between scenes of knocking heads together as a hard-boiled ex-spy and dealing with a spoiled, moody teenager at home who thinks she's a financial consultant for international charities.
This show varies from the late 1980s original in a few ways. First, obviously, the title character is a woman.
Second, there are a lot of supporting characters.
- Adam Goldberg and Liza Lapira portray Harry and Mel, a pair of ex-military intelligence officers who join McCall in her private detective/vigilante work.
- Chris Noth is Bishop, McCall's former boss at the CIA, who's also retired now and runs his own private security firm.
- Tory Kittles is NYPD Det. Dante, a police officer who maintains an uneasy professional relationship with McCall.
- Lorraine Toussaint portrays Viola "Aunt Vi" and Laya DeLeon Hayes is Delilah, McCall's teenage daughter.
I had misgivings going into this show. Would Queen Latifah have the acting range to pull off the character of McCall believably? It turns out she has acting chops to spare. She glides easily between scenes of knocking heads together as a hard-boiled ex-spy and dealing with a spoiled, moody teenager at home who thinks she's a financial consultant for international charities.