John Wick: Chapter 4

Keanu Reeves kills it, literally, in this bombastic action sequel

Keanu Reeves is back in Chad Stahelski’s epic action flick

The last time he tried to take on The High Table (a group of criminal families who run all the assassins around the globe), John Wick (Keanu Reeves) was shot and thrown off a roof. That left quite the impression of the assassin turned canine avenger.

After taking some time off to recover under the care of the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), John is back in fighting form and ready to bring a bloody end to his fight against The High Table. But this time, the table isn’t taking any chances. They’ve hired The Marquis (Bill Skarsgård, doing a French accent that would make Pepé Le Pew blush) to stop Wick once and for all. Though he’s ruthless, The Marquis isn’t about to stick his own neck out, given Wick’s track record. Instead, he drafts fellow former assassin, and Wick’s former friend, Caine (Donnie Yen) to get the job done.

Hunted everywhere he goes, John must find a way to bring an end to his conflict with The High Table. Can he kill his way to freedom? Or is chasing after death a fool’s errand?

We’ve come a long way from the guy who was mad about his dead dog.

I’ll put this as plainly as possible: the John Wick series is the most solidly entertaining action franchise in recent memory. It’s not just Wick’s bullets that don’t miss. Director Chad Stahelski is a former stuntman and treats fight choreography like fine art. The result is a ballet of bullets, blows, and bombastic energy that feels breathlessly fun to watch (and that’s damn lucky because this movie runs just shy of three hours).

Originally, John Wick 4 and 5 were to be shot back-to-back, so that the films could be released in quick succession. But Stahelski scrapped that idea, feeling the story was stretched too thin. Instead, we get a film that covers quite a bit of lore and storytelling while providing nearly nonstop action. It’s an impressive feat, even if the movie itself runs a healthy two hours and 49 minutes. I have to admit though, neither I nor my moviegoing companion felt the runtime. I was fully invested in watching Wick kill his way around the world on his eternal quest for vengeance.

Part of the reason the runtime soars by is the quality of the action. Unlike most action films, that use quick cuts to disguise stunt doubles and VFX, the John Wick series is known for its long takes. The result is fluid and brutal, action that shows off fight choreography and impressive blocking. The John Wick films often get dinged for not being realistic with their storytelling and action sequences, but that’s rather missing the point. These movies aren’t a treatise on the laws of physics, they’re a celebration of the art of movie stunts. Yes, each film takes the action further, but that’s simply an extension of what Stahelski and the stunt coordinators of Wick are able to do. Stahelski made his living carefully planning out every punch and blade thrust, and now he chooses to show that off with his films.

But beyond being a connoisseur of carnage, Stahelski is a fan of film. There are tons of nods to classic cinema and legendary action in the Wick franchise, from John testing out his new gun in Chapter 3 the same way Tuco does in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly to Lawrence of Arabia-inspired cuts in the newest installment. The last section of John Wick: Chapter 4 is essentially a tribute to The Warriors, and functions as an almost hour-long fight sequence. The nods to great films and great fight sequences make Chapter 4 something special if you’re a cinephile.

Also packing a punch in this installment of the Wick franchise is Donnie Yen as John’s antagonist. While most of the John Wick baddies have been predictably evil, there’s a real heart to Yen’s Caine. He doesn’t want to kill John, in fact, he still considers the man a friend. But unfortunately, he’s got no choice in the bloody business. It builds into the movie a sense of sentiment, that John’s history with the assassins he knew wasn’t all blood and guts. He made real friends, and they’re all victims of the life they chose. That doesn’t mean they won’t kill each other, but they’ll feel broken up about it later.

Yen is also still a vibrant fighter who hasn’t lost a step though he’s been making action movies (like the utterly brilliant Ip Man films) for decades. Here, he plays a blind assassin, who is more formidable because of his lack of sight. He imbues action scenes with lickety-split precision and surprising humor. It’s a great performance and one that will have you rooting for the bad guy (at least a little bit).

As the lead, Keanu’s performances throughout most of the John Wick franchise have been fairly straightforward. At first, he was avenging his dog and working out his feelings of grief over the loss of his wife, but that emotion has transformed over four films into a bloody-minded need to kill absolutely everything that opposes him. We take a look at John in this movie, not only what he’s fighting for, but who he’s fighting and harming along the way. Is killing the killers enough of a reason to continue the carnage?

Reeves sinks his teeth into the quieter scenes while reflecting with fellow assassins on the life they’ve led and while considering just what the right thing is to do. But he’s also game to grunt and shoot his way through any scene you give him. His quick transitions between pathos and murderous rage are a sight to behold.

So in the end, whether John Wick: Chapter 4 is worth a nearly three-hour runtime is up to you. Do you like old-school fight choreography in long takes that show off the art of the medium? Do you like sumptuous sets that are awash with color and light? Do you like… fun?

If the answer is yes, this installment of the John Wick franchise is worth your money and your time. And if you just have to order a giant drink with your popcorn be sure to go to the bathroom before John travels to Paris – you won’t want to miss the final hour.

Verdict: Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen pack a wallop in this thrilling fourth installment of the John Wick series.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is rated R and available in theaters March 24.