A fantastic Denzel Washington steals this sequel, which is enjoyable enough

Ridley Scott has probably been feeling like a gladiator lately, fending off menacing movie critics from his high-profile friends.

The director’s miserable “House of Gucci” was devoured by lions; rudenessNapoleon”He was decapitated. And “Last DuelGallons of blood (and millions of dollars) were bled.

But he finally scored a win with “Gladiator II,” the sequel to the delightful, not-so-long-awaited, out-of-nowhere movie that won the Best Picture Oscar in 2000.

Honestly, who would have thought there would be another “Gladiator”?

Is this an important continuation of the story of Russell Crowe’s martyr warrior Maximus? Well, not really. While a pleasant entertainment, the film is not as epic or heavy as its acclaimed predecessor.

And the thought that “II” will win the best Oscar in March is as ridiculous as sharks swimming in the Coliseum. (This actually happens.)

But there’s nothing wrong with a growling, violent, ancient Roman holiday, especially when it features a supporting performance as delicious as Denzel Washington’s Machiavellian Macrinus.

Crowe’s sword-wielding successor is Paul Mescal, who plays the shy Lucius, a sensitive soul hidden inside a gruff shell.

He is a soldier in the North African lands plundered and conquered by the forces of Roman general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Lucius’ wife is killed and the widow is captured and sent to the City of the Aqueducts.

But there is something strange about Lucius. He is unlike anyone else in the coastal enclave; There is more cabbage than tagine. And he recites poems; It’s a hobby befitting an actor featured prominently in the literary romantic drama “Normal People.”

The mystery unravels as the movie progresses. This is not Agatha Christie though.

When Lucius arrives in the birthplace of cacio e pepe, he is sold to Macrinus (Washington), a conniving former slave with the scent of Eve Harrington in his air. Mac suits brother emperors Geta and Caracalla (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, respectively), backstabbing just about anyone who wears a toga in his pursuit of ultimate power.

Meanwhile, Lucius quickly transforms into the most feared warrior in all of Rome.

While Mescal isn’t as exciting a force as Crowe, his often-silent character isn’t written that way. He is thoughtful and open-hearted as he tries to escape his dark past until he cuts off your arm.

Lucilla, Maximus’s daughter from the first film and the daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, is also still around; sipping wine in the garden and committing treason.

Connie Nielsen returns to play the title role with the grandiosity that’s in vogue during emotionally charged events. But now, with The Mandalorian and the hard-browed millennials starring in thoughtful indie films, it’s a bit out of sync.

‘Illa and Acacius conspire in the shadows to overthrow the emperors, who are crazy mini-Caligulas except for their orgies, and to restore the Aurelius line. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to know that Lucius was vital to this political effort.

In the 24 years since the first film, the mix of drama and gore has become commonplace. “Game of Thrones” was eight years old and had cinematic production values.

So Scott makes the sequel different by emphasizing theatricality. For example, a “sea” battle involves two ships in a makeshift pool in the Colosseum. There are historical records of the Romans putting on such a logistically challenging display.

In another scene, Mescal comes face to face with a killer monkey.

“Gladiator II” doesn’t aim to be much more than a fun historical action movie, but that simplicity lies at the core of its appeal. Scott’s film makes it easy to watch and is enhanced by a few more than decent performances.

Especially Washington.

You have to go back a long way to see the “Fences” actor enjoy a role this much. His Macrinus is sleazy and seductive, angelic but then unstable. The actor, who is clearly loving every second, delivers his lines in a funky sing-song rhythm that makes you laugh and draw you in.

Here Washington exemplifies “letting them want more.”

The movie may be called “Gladiator II,” but that’s because audiences haven’t met “Macrinus” yet.