Liam Neeson in Taken (2008), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Faster (2010), Nicholas Cage in Stolen (2012), Denzel Washington in The Equalizer (2014), and now, Keanu Reeves stars as a retired killing machine in the action-packed film, John Wick. Like many other revenge-based films, John Wick sets a high-level violent agenda to murder dozens of people.

In the movie, many former colleagues feared the news of his return after some Russian gangsters ransacked the Wick residence. John Wick also stars Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Ian McShane, Willem Dafoe and my favorite former drag queen, John Leguizamo (To Wong Foo).

But, John Wick Director Chad Stahelaki must have known that this storyline was very similar to that of The Equalizer. Both men uses retaliation as the fuel to start an all-out war on foreign enemies. Both men have leave their comfortable retirement to finish their vendettas. And both men, despite their age, use their physical states to kick butt.

Not to mention, both movies have corny endings. No Spoilers! No Shade!

The plots are almost identical. So similar that I have coined John Wick as the White Equalizer. While The Equalizer is multidimensional (and features the cutest minor, John Wick has ten times more action, killing, and overall brutality.

In addition to the murderous décor, John Wick holds about five big hilarious moments. While there’s nothing funny about dozens of casualties, the infrequent laughter is refreshing and appreciated. I have a queer sense of humor so don’t be alarmed if you don’t laugh as much.

If I had to choose a winner, it would be The Equalizer. But, the White Equalizer comes in at a very close second place.

3 Stars: With the release date and movie plot, John Wick was frightfully too close to The Equalizer. I could pull the race card and say Denzel Washington cannot have one single moment of “glory” but I see this as an opportunity to recognize that everybody cannot be Denzel!