It’s been over two years since John Wick: Chapter 4 hit theaters, and Ballerina is finally here to grace us with its presence. For the first time, a John Wick movie led by someone other than Keanu Reeves is now playing in theaters as Ana de Armas steps into the role of Eve Macarro, the latest member of the Ruska Roma. The John Wick franchise was built on the back of Reeves and director Chad Stahelski, but how does Ballerina fare with Stahelski no longer directing and Reeves taking a back seat to a new assassin?
It’s best to look at this as a soft transition into a new era of John Wick stories. Reeves’ John Wick still has an important role to play in the film — he’s more than just eye candy — and although Stahelski (allegedly) didn’t work on the script or direct, he is credited as an executive producer on Ballerina. The film takes place around the same time as John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, which allows for Reeves to appear after what appeared to be his death at the end of Chapter 4. However, that death didn’t stop Lionsgate from moving forward with a fifth John Wick movie, one Ana de Armas is interested in starring in as Eve.
It’s hard to think of a film that has bigger shoes to step into than Ballerina, which is the latest installment in a billion-dollar action franchise. Not only has John Wick become a household name in the last 10 years, but it’s also single-handedly revolutionized the action genre and brought Keanu Reeves back into the spotlight as an A-list star. Now that Ballerina is finally here, the questions on everyone’s mind are not only how it stands alone as a solid action vehicle, but how it fits into such a storied franchise that has been nearly perfect thus far.
What Is ‘Ballerina’ About?
Ballerina, which has since been retitled from the egregious From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (yes, we know it’s a John Wick movie), tells the story of Eve Macarro (Armas). Similar to John Wick, Eve is a member of the Ruska Roma, but she’s had a much different path to working with the organized crime family. The film sees Armas lose someone close to her before embarking on a fairly linear revenge story, albeit not one the franchise is unfamiliar with.
Ballerina’s plot has just enough juice behind it to be a compelling vehicle for what the movie knows is its ace: the action. For those who would criticize the story for being too simple or straightforward, be sure to remind them that the first ever John Wick movie, which Ballerina wouldn’t exist without, is just about a man going to kill some people who killed his dog. Ballerina’s story is a small step up from something like the first John Wick movie, but it’s slightly outclassed by the more complex narratives of John Wick: Chapter 3 and 4.
The film takes Eve on a journey across the world, which acts as a conduit for delivering some breathtaking set pieces — some moved forward by action and others by exposition. Passionate John Wick fans who are concerned about whether Ballerina will still have the feel of a John Wick movie, worry yourselves no longer; if Len Wiseman wasn’t listed as the director as soon as the credits roll, it would be entirely believable that Stahelski also directed Ballerina. Make no mistake, either, this is a major compliment to Wiseman’s ability to direct not just a cool action movie, but a good John Wick movie.
‘Ballerina’ Connects Just Enough to Other Parts of the John Wick Universe
Where Ballerina really excels is its ability to allow the audience to feel at home with the connections to older John Wick movies, but not shoving it in your face or leaning into it to a fault. Other than the obvious addition of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick, there are other subtle connections in the form of existing characters, landmarks, and name-drops. For example, several scenes in the movie take place in the New York Continental Hotel, the very same one we’ve seen John Wick in, sitting with his dog and battling the High Table.
This also allows for John Wick franchise veterans Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick to reprise their roles as Winston and Charon, respectively. Winston, in particular, is elegantly woven into the script in a way that pays homage to his character and his lengthy history as the manager of the NY Continental, but also in a way that allows him to fit into a vital piece of the story’s puzzle. Reddick’s role as Charon is small, but he brings all the same class to the Continental concierge that fans are accustomed to.
We now arrive at the golden goose, which is John Wick. His role in the film is bigger than what many going in are likely expecting, but it never feels like his character has been forcefully added to scenes to fill out a runtime. His role is important both to the overall narrative of the film and to Eve’s character development, and he brings all the same stoic energy to the role that made fans fall in love with his portrayal in the first place. Reeves’ role in Ballerina is handled with grace and care, even though his Chapter 4 death is seemingly going to be undone in John Wick 5, which is in development at Lionsgate.
Like All John Wick Movies, ‘Ballerina’ Is About the Action, Not the Acting
It’s unlikely anyone will come out of Ballerina campaigning for one of its stars to be recognized for their stellar achievement in acting, which is exactly how it should be. Part of why the John Wick franchise works is the stoic and laid-back nature of its characters, who somehow never seem to lose their cool in even the most intense situations. Eve is the perfect character to slot into this archetype, and it doesn’t take her long to prove she’s much more than just a gender-swapped John Wick. Ana de Armas does a stellar job taking advantage of the “less is more” model here to help the franchise deliver yet another memorable character.
The action, however, is what’s selling the tickets for any John Wick movie. Fans aren’t going to see a tear-jerking love story or a poignant tale with a message that takes hours to mentally transcribe. Ballerina knows people are going to see a deadly assassin kick butt against extremely capable mercenaries, and it follows through. Although the action isn’t best-in-class — an incredibly high bar to clear — it’s just a notch below the best previous movies have to offer, which still makes it as entertaining as any action thriller you’ll see this year.
The Future of the John Wick Franchise Is Brighter Than Ever
To answer the question posed as the title of this review, the John Wick franchise absolutely can and absolutely should continue, whether Keanu Reeves is around to star or not. Ballerina is an example of how the right actor and director can be slotted into an action-heavy script, and voilà.
This is ultimately a testament to the formula in place that Ballerina proves is replicable. The film leaves things fairly open-ended about Eve’s future, so her franchise future will likely depend on Ballerina’s box office performance and reception. There’s also a spin-off in the works focusing on Donnie Yen’s Caine, and if John Wick 5 brings everyone together, it’ll be as close to Endgame as this franchise will ever see.
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'Ballerina' Review
'Ballerina' ReviewThe Good
- While not best-in-class, the action is riveting and fun.
- The story is just as compelling as early John Wick movies.
- Established characters and landmarks are used perfectly.
- The performances are every bit as stoic as they should be.
The Bad
- It takes a while for the ball to get rolling in the first act.
- Some of the action is sped up enough to be distracting.
