Parker 2 never happened because of how the original film performed, but also because of Jason Statham's career trajectory. Parker released in 2013 and was based on the 2000 novel Flashfire, the 19th installment of Donald E. Westlake's book series, so there's plenty of source material to adapt for a sequel. Despite all the franchise potential, though, Parker 2 has never been greenlit by executives, even in a time when a sequel could thrive on a popular streaming service.
Written by John J. McLaughlin (Black Swan) and directed by Taylor Hackford (Ray), Parker stays true to crime thriller tropes. Jason Statham stars as the title character, a professional thief who lives by a specific code of honor in order to minimize the chaos in his life. After a heist-gone-wrong, Parker is left for dead by his accomplices, and then seeks revenge after being saved. Set primarily in Palm Beach, Florida, Parker co-stars Jennifer Lopez as Leslie Cienfuegos Rodgers and Michael Chiklis as the primary villain, Melander.
Parker 2 never got made because of the original film's perceived mediocrity. Based on the overall reviews, critics weren't impressed with the storyline and pointed out the lack of character depth for Statham's character. Parker does indeed hit all the expected story beats of a heist thriller but doesn't add much background detail for the focal antihero. To be fair, the filmmakers may have assumed that a sequel would allow them to properly flesh out Statham's character arc, but a poor box office return and middle-of-the-road reviews suggested a sequel would be a poor investment. Whereas many B-level action movies can easily become cult classics, Parker just didn't resonate with audiences, despite a promising subplot involving Lopez's down-and-out real estate agent. Furthermore, considering Statham's already extensive career reached new heights in the years after Parker's release, particularly being a staple in the Fast and Furious franchise, it stands to reason that he wouldn't return for Parker 2 even if he was given the chance.
From a streaming perspective, there's certainly plenty to enjoy about Parker. The first half shows Statham portraying both a priest and a Texas cowboy, and follows the narrative structure of a typical revenge film. However, Parker suddenly incorporates Leslie midway through, and never truly explores a romance between her and Statham's character. Instead, Lopez is used for comedic relief, and as a way to underline Parker's moral code, as he's still technically in a relationship with a woman named Claire, portrayed by Emma Booth. Lopez's performance is arguably the main selling point, but her lack of screen time leads to an underwhelming climax. Parker works as a fun piece of popcorn entertainment, but its storytelling is predictable and safe. There's conflict resolution but no big pay-off, and not even a blatant tease for a sequel.
Parker has been a major hit on Netflix because it checks off the appropriate amount of boxes for curious streamers. There's an A-list draw with Statham, an actor who is primarily associated with action flicks, and whose name alone informs viewers about what to expect. Of course, Lopez and Chiklis are also major draws, and deliver above-average performances to keep Netflix subscribers intrigued, even if the story is indeed predictable. Parker also has some gory moments, which undoubtedly adds a WTF factor that translates to free word-of-mouth marketing. In the Streaming Era, Parker's formulaic design and streaming success implies that a sequel could potentially be a Netflix Original, assuming that Statham wants to reprise his role. Back in 2013, though, Parker 2 didn't seem like a movie that would inspire people to leave home for a trip to the local movie theatre. A lot has changed in the movie industry since then.
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March 18, 2021 at 05:34AM
