Director: Chad Stahleski, David Leitch (uncredited)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Defoe, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Adrianne Palicki, Dean Winters, Bridget Moynahan
Hearing nothing but good things about the sleeper action film John Wick (2014), I figured the high praise was enough give this one a go. Let me start by saying, nothing in this movie disappoints. The premise is ridiculous, the flick knows it’s off the rails, and what makes it work is that it simply does not care what you think. The people behind the revenge picture might as well have added a disclaimer that reads: “Sit down. Shut up. Enjoy.” And with that being said, (Holy Body Count!) was this a non-stop Funfest. (Even my Lady liked it. That’s saying something.)

This movie was drag out, blood and guts, slam-bam (add more silly terms at your leisure) from the end of Act One on and it doesn’t let up until the final shot. Normally, this can be tedious and ineffective, but the world that opens up to the viewer is so well crafted that it leaves the audience clamoring for more. The supporting cast is amazing as well, dropping familiar faces into this gumbo of awesome at a steady, but not over saturated, pace. Rough, gritty, and self aware of it’s coo-coo bananas plot, the filmmakers put together a production that comes with a slick polish all the while throwing everything they could at the screen without apology. I haven’t seen a movie this confident in a crazy premise since Jason Statham ran amok in Crank (2006).


As stated earlier, the body count in this film is staggering and unrelenting. So much so that if you look hard enough, you can find links on Youtube giving a shocking (yet accurate) number for the
titular character alone (worth a gander, but you gotta do the leg work on that one.). What makes this rough pill so easy to swallow is how the violence is presented. The rules of John Wick’s universe, once you are brought behind the curtain, is so over blown and aware of it’s cool, that as a viewer it never seems out of place. In fact, one might feel naked without it.
So, now comes the part of the review where I give my honest opinion. Smart. Mindless. Dark. Funny. Sad. Triumphant… most of all entertaining. The scales are never tipped in one direction or the other emotionally. Every feeling is fair game and the ride begs you to get in line twice. And, you just might. Now shut off the lights. Turn up the sound. And hang on, because John Wick is going to beat some fun into your ass. (Was that too much? It might have been too much… Screw it. Your ass will be beaten with fun.). Enjoy!
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Ruff Rider |
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