Few movie franchises can boast of having the overwhelming love and approval of their fan base.
John Wick is one of those rare fandoms. The slick, ultra-modern underworld of rules, honor, and assassins has drawn audiences in since 2014, with nary a misstep, save for the poorly received Continental series on Amazon. That missed opportunity aside, the John Wick series continues to please viewers, and the latest entry into the series, Ballerina, keeps that good will alive with style.
The titular Ballerina is Eve Macarro (Ana De Armas), an orphan taken in by The Director (Angelica Houston) after witnessing the murder of her father. She is brought up in the Ruska Roma, the American branch of Russian Gypsies, which doubles as a ballet troupe and a school for assassins for hire.
Fueled by the rage she’s been carrying from her childhood trauma, Eve excels at both sides of her adoptive family’s businesses, but more so the side that doesn’t deal with pointe shoes and tutus. She slowly starts to make a name for herself, until she discovers a clue that may lead her to her father’s killers.
The world of John Wick’s appeal and entire mythos is founded on rules. These rules must be obeyed to keep the balance of things. If they are broken, there are consequences. You can bet your last gold coin that Eve’s search for vengeance and answers takes her outside those rules.
Being younger and less experienced than the Babayaga, Eve’s fighting style is less precise and more rough around the edges, which is, in a twisted way, endearing. As she was told, being a girl, she’ll always be at a disadvantage, and she has to get creative to make up for it. And she does get creative, with everything from ice skates to flamethrowers, and racks up quite the body
count throughout the process. When you walk out of the theater, you’ll see why “Fight like a girl” is no longer a bad thing to say to someone.
The sleek, hyper-cool visuals are on par with the rest of the franchise’s offerings, and so is the action. The fights retain the signature blend of dance-like rhythm and insane violence, keeping you glued to the screen even when body parts start flying.
John Wick himself makes an appearance and even plays a sizable role in the movie, not just a simple cameo. Keanu on screen is always a welcome sight, but his being in the film was more of a bonus than anything else. Even without him showing up, Ballerina more than holds its own in the line-up of John Wick films, delivering action, story, and visuals that are undeniably on-brand with the franchise. For any fan of the world of John Wick, it is surely worth your coin.