REVIEW - John Wick (2014)

I’ll be honest… I went into JOHN WICK expecting little. First-time directors, David Leitch / Chad Stahelski (formerly MATRIX stuntmen) craft a revenge action thriller starring an action star, Keanu Reeves, whose star as slipped. I’d seen some clips and the action certainly looked intriguing. The cast - Michael Nyquist (GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Trilogy), Adrianne Palicki (AGENTS of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Alfie Allen (GAME OF THRONES), Willem DaFoe (PLATOON), and Ian McShane (DEADWOOD) – are all competent enough. So, in an effort to save time, allow me to “bottom line” it for you. JOHN WICK is a ridiculously simple script (basically, if you’ve seen the trailer, you already get it). The plot is utterly derivative and there are few surprises in its narrative. That all said though… JOHN WICK is also easily one of the best American action films of the last decade. The admittedly familiar plot - retired assassin loses wife to cancer and then is drawn out of retirement by the actions of the son of a Russian mob boss – is simple, direct, and impossible to misconstrue. However, once we get passed that… it’s all guns and ass-kickery from there. And boy… is the action ever eye-popping. Fast, brutal and COMPLETELY effective, Wick is a one man wrecking crew. I did think the ending was a little too pat, but… what’s here is exciting in a way action films haven’t been in a very long time. So yeah… if you’re looking for a film that is going to stimulate your brain… look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a fun, exciting time at the cinema, then JOHN WICK is totally worth checking out.

Rating: 4 out of 5



~ Thom Carnell