Review: The John Wick franchise is alive and kicking with Ballerina

Summary

Ballerina has all the eye-popping visuals, lavish sets, and spectacularly inventive stuntwork one would expect from a film set in the John Wick universe. It's more tightly plotted than recent entries in the franchise, and the globe-trotting locations make narrative sense; it's not just an excuse for staging a spectacle (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). [WARNING: A couple of significant spoilers below. Do not proceed if you haven't seen the film.] This was Lance Reddick's final appearance as the concierge Charon. Lionsgate This was Lance Reddick's final appearance as the concierge Charon. Lionsgate Anjelica Huston returns as Director of the Ruska Roma crime syndicate. Lionsgate Anjelica Huston returns as Director of the Ruska Roma crime syndicate. Lionsgate Norman Reedus plays a mysterious man named Daniel Pine. Lionsgate Norman Reedus plays a mysterious man named Daniel Pine. Lionsgate Anjelica Huston returns as Director of the Ruska Roma crime syndicate. Lionsgate Norman Reedus plays a mysterious man named Daniel Pine. Lionsgate Eve seeks revenge for the killing of her father. Lionsgate Face off: the syndicate sends their best to take out Eve. Lionsgate As always, the fight choreography is perfection. Eve is smaller than most of the men she takes on, but that doesn't make her any less deadly, particularly when she's more than willing to fight dirty—and pretty skilled at making lethal weapons out of, say, a random pair of ice skates. A fight scene with dueling flame throwers is one for the ages. It's a genuine shame that Ballerina's highly skilled stunt team isn't eligible for the new Oscar category honoring stunt work. I do have a couple of minor quibbles. While any appearance of Keanu Reeves' Wick is always welcome, it's not clear why the Ruska Roma would send him to take out Eve when she defies direct orders. This all occurs during the events of Parabellum, and we've already seen Wick "punch his ticket" with the Director to escape New York ...