Movie Review: JOHN WICK

This review was originally published during our Fantastic Fest 2014 Coverage. We are republishing it since John Wick is in theaters Nationwide today.

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Charles Bronson lost so many family members in the Death Wish series, down to cousins I believe. Did he ever lose a dog though? I don’t think so. John Wick loses a dog when some punks break into his home so they can steal his beautiful vintage car. Just like the street trash in Death Wish, they have no idea who they’re messing with. One of the car thieves in the bratty son of a Russian mobster who it just so happens used to have ties to John Wick: he was one of their assassins. One of the best. He’s left with little option but to try to take John out before he comes after his son. John is not easy to kill.

The dog slaying being the catalyst for a bloodbath may seem rather silly, like this may be some kind of comedy-action film. It’s not a comedy though, and the connection and what the dog represents is absolutely believable for what happens next. Reeves plays the character with a somber chip on his shoulder, vulnerable but utilizing it. John Wick isn’t invincible, but he’s extremely talented and efficient. He’ll put two in the body and one in the head just to make sure that the job is done. There’s so much close range gun combat in the film, way more than I’ve seen in a recent film. Particularly impressive is a shootout in a crowded nightclub that’s so well choreographed and staged. Directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch are both stunt coordinators for countless notable action films of the past three decades, and their touch shows in spades. What’s more impressive however is their stylish visual grasp, and their direction of Keanu and the film that just…works.

The supporting cast of characters are unfortunately fairly underdeveloped, including a rival assassin played by Adrianne Palicki who at least gets a drag out fight sequence to shine in. Lance Reddick, John Leguizamo, Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane, and Jason Isaacs all make brief and underused appearances as well. These supporting roles are so minimal because the film is so lean and mean. There’s very little fat on the 96 minute bone, and one has to wonder if there was more story and character cut away in order to make a more solid, straight up action film. Complaints are minimal at that thought though, as it does exactly what it sets out to do.

I caught the second screening of John Wick at Fantastic Fest, and heard an overwhelmingly positive response to the first. I tried to steer clear of much talk about it so as not to spoil the fun. One thing that piqued my interest though was someone saying that “John Wick is basically the new Taken.” In some sense that’s really true, as it’s a comeback performance from a big star raking up a body count of foreigners. John Wick is a much more interesting character than Bryan Mills, though, because he’s vulnerable. Wick is damageable, and he’s so much more compelling because of it as you just don’t know if he’s gonna survive. Don’t know if this will be the sleeper hit of the year or not, but it’s a damn good time at the movies.