John Wick is back in action, and this time he’s taking his high-octane, hyper-violent killing spree on a global tour. In “John Wick: Chapter 4,” directed once again by Chad Stachelski and starring Keanu Reeves, our favorite assassin must find a way to defeat the high table and earn his freedom. Of course, there are plenty of obstacles in his way, including a powerful new enemy and old friends turned foes.
I remember the first time I saw John Wick. All my friends were going to a different movie, and I said, “I’m going to see John Wick.” They were like, “The Keanu Reeves DVD movie that looks like it would be something you Tivo’d in 2007?” And I was like, “Yeah.” Who was right? Me. And ever since then, this series has been trying to top itself.
While I enjoyed all three of the previous entries, the first one was always my favorite because the story felt a little deeper than the others. But the cool thing about two and three is that they expanded the lore of this universe so well and opened up a whole new world. And in Chapter 4, that world just got a whole lot bigger.
Clocking in at 2 hours and 49 minutes, this is easily the longest of the four films. The first one was only 101 minutes, and each one after that became a little bit longer. But this one is a juggernaut. I’ve seen a lot of debate lately about the length of movies, and whether or not they should be shorter or longer. A movie is as long as it should be. That’s how I view it. And John Wick: Chapter 4 should be this long. This movie feels so big; the scope is insane. The film traverses the globe from Osaka to Paris to New York. It feels like a sprawling James Bond film, except with a lot of hyper violence.
And speaking of violence, Keanu Reeves killing hundreds of people has never looked better. This movie is stunning. The carnage is equaled by the set design and the production design. This is such a beautiful movie.
But it’s not just about the looks. This movie introduces a whole bunch of new side characters, including Donnie Yen as Kane, an old friend turned foe, Hiroyuki Sonata, who is always badass, and Lawrence Fishburne, who is great to see back again. But one of my favorite new characters in the movie is referred to as Mr. Nobody, played by Shamir Anderson. This guy was awesome. I would not be surprised if you hear things about a potential spin-off movie with him. He was so, so fun. His character is kind of obsessed with killing John Wick, but only if a specific thing happens, and I won’t tell you what it is. It’s really unique, and I’ve never seen it before.
Bill Skarsgard as the new villain is a massive standout, but of course, you come to the John Wick movies because you want to see a lot of action. And this movie somehow really does up the ante. It’s absurd. There are so many incredible set pieces, from a jaw-dropping 30-minute sequence in Osaka with swords and knives and nunchucks and guns and everything you could ever imagine being thrown at someone, to a stunning sequence in Paris where people are fighting around cars. That’s one of the highlights of the whole movie for me. There’s also a Minority Report-esque shot overhead following John as he dispatches people throughout a building, and a truly applause-worthy stunt on stairs.
This movie is a stunt showcase from beginning to end. The Mission Impossible movies are doing for massive, unexplainably large stunts like Tom Cruise hanging from a plane and those types of things, the John Wick movies are doing with throwing human beings around the ground and into things in very painful looking ways. Both franchises are magnificent in their own ways and both are great at showcasing excellent stunt work.
I loved chapter four. It feels like the stakes are higher than ever before, and the action is non-stop. It’s like a rollercoaster ride that you don’t want to end. But, I have to admit, it’s not a perfect movie. Some of the plot points are a little convoluted, and there are a few moments where the film drags a bit. But, let’s be honest, you’re not coming to see John Wick for the plot, are you?
You’re coming to see Keanu Reeves kick butt and take names, and boy does he deliver. He’s in top form here, and it’s a joy to watch him work. The fight choreography is fantastic, and the editing is perfect. It’s so refreshing to see action that is well shot and well edited, where you can actually tell what’s happening.
All in all, John Wick: Chapter 4 is a fantastic addition to the franchise. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s beautiful. If you’re a fan of the previous movies, you’re going to love this one. And if you’re not, well, why not? What’s wrong with you? Go watch them right now, and then come back and watch this one. Trust me, it’s worth it.
