Rating: ***
Review Date: 6/7/25
Director: Len Wiseman
Music: Tyler Bates
Cast: Ana de Armas, Ian McShane, Gabriel Byrne, Angelica Huston,
Keanu Reeves, Norman Reedus, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno,
cameo by Anne Parillaud
First of all, I refuse to use the film's full title, which is "From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina." It's a mouthful that reeks of studio interference and undermines the ability of the film to stand on its own. And it's not likely to be confused with the other "Ballerina" film that came out in 2023. Taking place between "John Wick: Chapter 3" (2019) and "John Wick: Chapter 4" (2023), it's a simple revenge film about a young woman named Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) searching for her father's killer. Eve was adopted into Anjelica Huston's Ruska Roma family as a child and trained to be an assassin. During a mission, she learns about the cult that was responsible for her father's death and goes rogue when everyone forbids her to pursue her quest. This ultimately leads to a huge battle at the cult's headquarters, and John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is called in to resolve the matter before a clan war breaks out. Things do not go as expected.
Seeing Ana de Armas in an action film is a no-brainer for me, especially after she stole the show in "No Time To Die" (2021). Framing Eve's story in the world of John Wick is just icing on the cake, and while it doesn't expand the lore, it fully utilizes the themes, customs, mythology, and visual language of the series. Of course, my expectations were ridiculously high, and I was slightly disappointed. Len Wiseman's direction lacks the precision and punch of the previous entries, and while Ana is constantly at a size disadvantage, she often looks like she's pulling her punches. Reportedly, Wiseman's original version of the film was deemed a disaster, causing series veteran Chad Stahelski to step in and reshoot a majority of the movie. Tyler Bates was also called in to replace the original score, and the result reminded me of Brian Tyler's "Bangkok Dangerous" (2008) more than anything. Regardless of who actually directed the film, it looks gorgeous. The locations are beautiful and the set pieces look fantastic. Unfortunately, the writing is a little weak, and while there are a couple of clever moments, there are far more lines that are cringey and unnecessary. The film also struggles to find its female voice, and falls back on grating chauvinism and tiresome gender tropes too often. Additionally, the fate of Norman Reedus's character is clumsy and seems tacked on as an afterthought to ensure a happy ending and some poetic closure for Eve.
That said, despite the film's shortcomings, its primary objective is to entertain the audience and showcase Ana de Armas's considerable talents. She does a fantastic job and looks great, although she suffers an inhuman amount of abuse and barely shows a scratch. Keanu Reeves shows up as the enigmatic John Wick and his first appearance is delightfully well-played. However, his showdown with Eve at the film's climax lacks teeth, and Wick is more interested in saving her than eliminating her. Lance Reddick has a small role as Charon, which would be his final performance before he died. At first I thought he had been digitally resurrected for the movie, but that's not the case. The film has just been gestating for a long time. The beautiful Catalina Sandino Moreno cuts a striking figure as a high ranking cult figure, but her reunion with Eve represents a missed opportunity. And finally, I noticed Anne Parillaud's name in the credits, which shocked me. She's listed as "Prague Concierge," but I never saw anyone fitting that description. After doing a little research, Wiseman revealed that her scenes were cut and that she would be in the extended version of the film. This was clearly a shout-out to Luc Besson's groundbreaking "La Femme Nikita" (1990), and much of the film pays homage to that. I also find it interesting that Gabriel Byrne is the villain, who starred in the American remake, "Point Of No Return" (1993). Coincidence?
While I definitely enjoyed the film, it makes me question the future of the "John Wick" franchise. I loved Eve's character and Lionsgate says that they already have plans for a sequel, but I'd be surprised if that actually happens. We've heard that too many times from other female-led action films, and it never materializes. But I'll be there if it does! The series' brand of action continues to thrill and amaze, and while "Ballerina's" action is gleefully ridiculous, it doesn't reach the levels of absurdity found in the last movie. (although the flamethrower porn at the end comes close) It's a purely visceral and visual action film. It's not deep, harrowing, or emotionally gripping, and it plays out like a video game. Just turn off your brain and revel in Ana de Armas's brilliance.