John Wick 4 Review: Does Keanu Reeves Deliver Another Action-Packed Hit?

 John Wick 4 Review: Does Keanu Reeves Deliver Another Action-Packed Hit?

It seems the superhero movies might be taking a back seat for the meantime. With Shazam and Ant-Man struggling at the box office, John Wick, an original franchise that spawned from a nearly DTV movie is doing blockbuster numbers while the cape flicks the so-called “savior for the theaters” are in the gutter. Yeah, I'm thinking movies are back! 

The John Wick series has come along since its release back in 2014. Not only did one think that the first film would’ve ever taken off as far as it did. The film put one of the world’s most beloved actors Keanu Reeves back on the map, after his career was in turmoil. It also managed to revitalize the action genre by combining choreography, stylish video-game style visuals, and explicit gore and violence. Transforming what would normally be a B-movie into an action-cinema connoisseur's dream come true. 

Fast forward 9 years later as we’re presented the fourth chapter of the John Wick series, this time clocking in at 2 hours and 49 minutes, John Wick: Chapter 4 not only deserves every minute of it’s runtime, but it is easily one of the most well-paced and electrifying displays of action filmmaking ever made. By far the best action franchise that’s going on today, every installment has been genre defining, and not just from a technical standpoint, but even from a story perspective which even diehard fans don’t entirely feel like discussing. This chapter continues on the same thread of John not quite getting it and digging himself deeper into this endless hole. It makes us want to keep coming back to these stories of John, whether he will or will not be able to climb himself out of this jeopardy, or do we continue to watch him keep descending into the nine circles of hell. 

This film is stuffed to the brim, it’s the most maximalist and fantastical this franchise has ever got. It has the longest runtime, the colors feel brighter, the humor prevalent, the set pieces more extravagant, and the events even less plausible, which the franchise always was. If you’re only a fan of the first film because of the simple revenge story you’re not gonna get that with any of the sequels (especially this one), but arguably the franchise was never that simple from the start. From the gecko John Wick has always been the modern mythological figure. Even though director Chad Stahelski (who was also Reeves stuntman in The Matrix films) has no writing credit for any of the four entries, yet he’s supposedly responsible for the allegorical aspects, not only biblical but mythological and also the mythology of the assassin world in and of itself. The continental, the coins, and the supporting characters, it’s all very intentional. You can see clearly that John is made out to be Hercules, Sisyphus, Orpheus, and particularly Dante, you name it it’s John. 

Chad Stahleski isn’t shy to be upfront about the heightened reality of it all, but also his inspirations from wuxia films, video games, anime, westernes, there’s a really big western compartment in here towards the third act that is completely transcendent. This franchise really is a proud mural of all that came before it. There is this unapologetic self-indulgence that these movies have that is utterly missing from action movies and stars today. Keanu Reeves is hitting 60 years old soon and still performing 90% of his own stunts, which should put others to shame. The cinematography, the choreography, the production design, the ultra violence, location scouting, and attention to detail, it’s no wonder it took them four years to make this one (surprised it didn’t even take longer). This also the most realized and charming that the side characters have been, Bill Skarsgård, Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Scott Adkins, Rina Sawayama, Shamier Anderson are phenomenal new additions to the lore, along with the returning legends such as Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and Lance Reddick (RIP to Reddick who passed away not long before the films release) all of these gifted talents give 110%. 

Both Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski have been fairly adamant about letting the character rest for now, as they pursue new creative endeavors, Lionsgate is understandably keen on making more John Wick movies, Wick's return may be TBD, but fortunately, fans won't have to wait too long to revisit the world of the High Table as “The Continental” centered on a young Winston is currently eyeing a Fall 2023 premiere date on Peacock. Then, we'll pick up with the prequel film Ballerina, which stars Academy Award-nominee Ana de Armas (Knives Out; No Time to Die) in the lead role and is set between the events of Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Franchise mainstays Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick will all reprise their respective roles in the Len Wiseman-directed spinoff. For the time being, go and see John Wick: Chapter 4 everyone! These are the movies we need to be supporting more often. 

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By Danny Manna Twitter: @Cinemanna24 - Nerdthusiast Content Creator