Review: From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – Murder on the dancefloor

Directed by Len Wiseman
Starring Ana de Armas, Gabriel Byrne, Angelica Huston, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves 

6.5/10

The first big-screen spin-off since John Wick 4’s epic conclusions, a lot rests on the Ballerina’s performance. With all the world-building layered into the John Wick films, can the franchise survive without its legendary assassin? From the World of John Wick: Ballerina plays it safe, not merely with the cumbersome title leaving no room to miss the connection, but also setting it in a timeline where Keanu Reeves’ character can make an appearance.

When she’s orphaned at an early age, Eve (Ana de Armas) is taken in by the Ruska Roma and trained in their deadly arts. Still, she craves vengeance for the murder of her father, but the opportunity might put her against her own crime family.

From The World of John Wick: Ballerina feels like a proof of concept, demonstrating that there’s enough interesting lore associated with the world that Stahelski and Kolstad have created to anchor a film without Wick as the central protagonist. This plays it safe, setting the story amongst the Ruska Roma and crossing paths with Wick a couple of times throughout the run. As such, it does feel a little like a standard revenge action film, given a boost by the associated material.

Still, it does manage to prove that concept, providing a solidly enjoyable action film. Wiseman isn’t Stahelski, so the flow of the action isn’t as good, but it’s certainly serviceable. The end sequence even manages to add its own bit of delightful lunacy by having a matched set of incredibly impractical weapons duel. It’s dumb and awesome in equal measure and will bring a big smile to an action fan’s face (I honestly feel a little dirty for not bumping up the score purely for this sequence).

As for Armas, she is good in the action and fight sequences but doesn’t bring enough to the character to really distinguish it from a gender-flipped Wick (with a taste for explosives). Still, it’s early days, and the character can grow. The returning cast slots back effortlessly, giving that touch of heightened melodrama that’s as characteristic as the insane action for the world of Wick. Unfortunately, this film’s villain falls flat, with an uncharacteristic dud performance from Gabriel Byrne.

From The World of John Wick: Ballerina is a solid outing from the franchise, one that proves there’s life in the concept rather than setting the world on fire.

DAVID O’CONNELL