Creating a sequel to “Gladiator” might seem like a dismal idea. How can one possibly follow the legendary Maximus played by Russell Crowe, the villainous Emperor Commodus portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, and all the epic sword-fighting and arena drama—especially after it won a Best Picture Oscar—without appearing ridiculous?

Then you sit down to watch “Gladiator II”—featuring crazy baboons, stampeding rhinos, a Roman Colosseum teeming with hungry sharks, and Denzel Washington devouring every line of his dialogue—and you start to think, maybe embracing silliness isn’t such a bad move.

Director Ridley Scott delivers an electrifying, action-focused sequel (★★★ out of four; rated R; releasing in theaters on Nov. 22) that lacks the emotional weight of the original from 2000 primarily because it revels in more melodramatic elements. Expect lots of betrayal, scandal, power struggles, and revenge, with Paul Mescal playing an enslaved man who rediscovers his purpose as a gladiator, while Washington shines as the eccentric, ambitious Macrinus, our hero’s master.

Set 16 years after Maximus’s legendary victory over Commodus, we meet Lucius (Mescal), a boy at the time of that triumph who now lives on the African coast in Numidia, leading troops alongside his archer wife, Arishat (Yuval Gonen). When a Roman naval fleet headed by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades their city, tragedy strikes as Arishat is killed, and Lucius is captured as a slave.

Upon reaching Rome, Lucius gains attention after a fierce battle against a deadly monkey, putting him in the sights of Macrinus (Washington), a powerful arms dealer and “master of gladiators” with ambitions of expanding his influence. “Rage is your gift. Don’t let it slip away. It will take you far,” he advises Lucius.

Meanwhile, Acacius returns home to his wife Lucilla (Connie Nielsen)—the daughter of Marcus Aurelius from the first film—while co-emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) plan to host games in his honor before sending him off to conquer Persia and India. Frustrated by their tyranny, he vows to Lucilla that he won’t sacrifice another generation of men to feed their vanity.

Lucius and Acacius are inevitably headed for a showdown in the Colosseum, but tensions rise when Lucilla recognizes Lucius as Maximus’s child, leading to complicated emotions as they reunite.

While Mescal may not possess Crowe’s commanding presence, he brings a certain toughness to his role as a “barbarian” in the eyes of the Roman elite, surprising them with his poetic talents and unyielding spirit. The physical fight scenes are entertaining—similar to “WrestleMania,” but with some impressive, grand kills. Scott’s flair for chaotic excitement shines through, particularly in the stunning opening scenes in Numidia (which outshine much of “Napoleon”) and several sequences featuring animals. One particularly outrageous moment recreates a boat fight where gladiators meet their end at the hands of either a fellow combatant or a shark.

The flamboyant emperors played by Quinn and Hechinger seem a bit over-the-top and can’t quite match the memorable villainy of Phoenix’s performance. However, Pascal convincingly portrays a weary military man grappling with the ethics of his violent duties. Washington shines as Macrinus, embodying a larger-than-life personality akin to a vintage Don King, and there’s a particularly absurd scene with him and a decapitated head that may just be the most enjoyable moment in the film.

This sequel doesn’t quite replicate the original “Gladiator,” but it draws heavily from its predecessor—echoing familiar characters, storylines, thematic elements, and even lines from the first film.

Fortunately, there are no cringe-worthy moments of “Are you not entertained … too?” But despite sacrificing some of the original’s profound storytelling for delightful chaos, we’re still entertained.