The John Wick franchise has been a juggernaut in the action film scene. Ever since the Baba Yaga burst onto our screens in 2014 with the original John Wick, I and many others have been obsessed with the brutal action this series provides. So when John Wick: Chapter 4 seemingly ended the series with the death of John Wick (spoilers, I guess), I assumed that’d be the end of the franchise. But I was (happily) mistaken when it was announced that there would be a spin-off film, titled Ballerina. Len Wiseman steps into the director’s chair with Ana de Armas taking the leading role as our new murder machine. And now, after several years of development and a name change to From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (it’s so fucking stupid and I hate it), the film is now out. Does it reach the bar set by the main series, or is it a poor imitation?
Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) is living with her father (David Castaneda) in a remote villa. Eve’s father reminisces about his wife and eldest daughter, but snaps out of it while spending time with his youngest daughter, Eve. But that night, a group of assailants stormed their house in an attempt to abduct Eve and kill her father for betraying them. After a lengthy fight, Eve and her father make it out, but Eve’s father succumbs to his injuries and dies. At a police station, Eve is found by Winston (Ian McShane) and is brought to the Ruska Roma, her father’s “family”. Eve joins the Ruska Roma with one clear goal: to find the people who murdered her father and kill them. Over the next 12 years, Eve trains in the art of killing, and now she has the chance to prove herself. But things aren’t as they seem, as unseen forces are waiting in the shadows, plotting their next move.
The revenge plot is nothing new in the John Wick franchise. Hell, pretty much all of them involve revenge in some capacity. So, for the spin-off film to be about a character seeking vengeance isn’t all that surprising or interesting on its own. But what made this story interesting to me were the small details and the final act. Being able to see inside the Ruska Roma from the perspective of a ballerina was neat and something we couldn’t get if John Wick were the protagonist. Eve’s revenge story, while generic in concept, stands out through her family circumstances. Her mother was part of an assassin cult, and her father escaped with her (hence why they wanted to abduct her in the beginning). This added context to the revenge story, and the payoff in the final act overshadowed the more generic plot points. I wasn’t blown away or anything, but it did a decent job.
The question many people were asking in the lead-up to the film’s release was whether this series could survive without Keanu Reeves in the lead role. Well, I’m happy to say that Ana de Armas answered that question with a resounding yes. She does a fantastic job as Eve and nails the perfect vibe to be a part of this world. While there were one or two lines of dialogue that were a bit jank, she nails everything else. The determination, anger, and even one-liners all cemented her as a future figurehead of this franchise.
Shame then that the main villain was a bit forgettable, so much so that he doesn’t even have a name and is just called the Chancellor. Gabriel Byrne is decent enough in the role, but I would’ve loved a bit more development instead of being a cult leader. He does get more screen time than Norman Reedus, though, who I thought would play a bigger role in the film than he did.It’s not all new faces as Ian McShane returns as Winston before he loses control of the New York Continental. It’s always great to see him return to the series as he looks like he’s having a ball every time. Lance Reddick is also back in his final on-screen appearance as Charon, which was a sombre experience. I adore that man, and he was taken from this world all too soon. He isn’t in the film long, but his performance was as exemplary as always. And it wouldn’t be a film set in the John Wick universe without an appearance or two from the main man himself. Keanu appears in a limited capacity for a couple of action scenes to prove that he’s still got it.
The main reason you go to see a John Wick film is the action. They’re known for their expert choreography and brutal fights that make you wince every couple of seconds (and maybe look at pencils a little differently). That has not changed here, because bloody hell, these fights are perfect. The action scenes in this film are probably some of my favourites from the entire franchise; they’re that good. From Eve’s first job in a nightclub to the near hour-long finale that just keeps on upping the ante, it’s perfect. I’ll refrain from talking about it too much to avoid spoilers, but there were a few moments that left me feeling pity for Eve’s victims. Like, the overkill was insane, and I loved every second of it (also, lots of grenades).
It also helps that the film is beautifully shot, with sets that are just exquisite. The lighting, camera angles, and editing were all top tier and elevated the film to greater heights. My favourite sequence was near the beginning, as Eve is finishing a job in a penthouse. It’s one take and follows her cleaning up and leaving the scene of the crime. As she is leaving, we see the carnage that took place, and it made a larger impact than just seeing the fights. It was something different and showed us that Eve was just that badass. Again, I could talk about the fights for hours, but you should just go see it for yourself instead.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (I still fucking hate that name), is up there as one of my favourites from the John Wick series. Ana de Armas is an excellent leading actor, and I’m very much in favour of her being the new face of the series, if Keanu is done. And while the revenge plot is a little generic, the characters and action set pieces make up for it. If you’re a fan of action films, go check this out right now. You won’t be disappointed.
Have you seen Ballerina? What did you think? Where would you rank it compared to the other films? Let us know in the comments below where we can talk all things John Wick.
