John Wick
Directors: Chad Stahelski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen
101 mins; Class 15;
KRS Releasing Ltd
After what seems like quite a notable absence, Keanu Reeves is back on the big screen in a slick and stylish thriller in which he plays the titular character, John Wick.
Wick is a man hoping for some peace, but he is drawn unwillingly back into the violent world he left years ago.
In a brief but effective bit of exposition, we are introduced to his character. We first see him falling out of an SUV, clearly badly injured.
Then we flash back to happier times, with Wick enjoying the company of his wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan). When she succumbs to illness in hospital, Wick is clearly devastated, and after her funeral he begins the painful process of grieving.
When three thugs break into his home and beat him almost to death and kill his beloved newly-acquired dog Daisy – just to steal his vintage car – they get more when they bargain for when they realise who Wick really is – a well-connected, recently retired hit man whose nickname was the ‘boogie man’. This attack on his home brings him back into the underworld with a vengeance.
John Wick is directed by first-timer Chad Stahelski, and one of its producers is David Leitch. These are the co-founders of one of Hollywood’s leading stunt groups, the former also being Reeves’ stunt double.
They bring the full force of their background and experience to the film with their flawless execution (pun intended) of the action, which takes up the bulk of the film’s running time.
They have effectively created a 90-minute action bonanza; the slender plot unfolding in-between dizzyingly dynamic fight scenes involving guns, knives and hand-to-hand combat. There is also the odd destructive car chase thrown in for good measure allowing us to witness Keanu’s nifty driving skills.
And yet, considering the levels of noise and the kinetic energy emitting from the screen , there are some moments where a little weariness sets in.
The emphasis is overtly on style and not on substance
For all their elaborate choreography, fiery gunplay and very high body count, some of the fights carry on a tad too long.
Moreover, there is little sense of suspense to the proceedings, for once Wick thwarts the first attack on his life with the consummate ease of the killing machine that he is. There is never really any doubt that from thereon he is going to triumph.
With the emphasis overtly on style and less on substance; it comes as no surprise that the actual plotline itself is as thin as the paper its original pitch was likely written on.
The characters are mere stereotypes; however the actors inhabiting them make the effortlessly make them rather attractive.
Swedish actor Michael Nyquist is smooth, congenial and dangerous as Russian criminal underworld boss Viggo Tarasov. Game of Thrones’ Alfie Allen is Iosif, Tarasov’s sneering, spoilt son whose actions sparks Wick’s vengeful comeback; Ian McShane has a small rrole as Winstone, the charismatic owner of the Continental Hotel; while Willem Dafoe brings some gravitas to the role of Marcus, a veteran assassin.
As for the women, the very brief wife role played by Bridget Moynihan is counterbalanced by Adrienne Palicki’s spunky and sparky assassin Ms Perkins. As for Reeves himself, it is great to see the now 50-year-old back in such a charismatic role which truly plays to his strengths, allowing him to exude his trademark cool.