Just trying a blog style mini review of Ballerina, although the ad campaign is giving it a long winded unweildly title of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. Probably to get folks to see it for a John Wick universe (which apparently isn’t working very well if ticket sales are any indication, even though the ads and posters plastered John all over it and he’s in it like 10 minutes tops).

Somewhat confusingly set on the John Wick timeline (you’ll have to Google it for an explanation from Keanu) during and after John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4 (John got shot off a roof somewhere in between but he’s okay here) this follows Eve (Ana de Armas) as one of the assassin Ballerinas seen in Chapter 3. There’s a few other Wick series characters in here, aside from Keanu Reeves as John it’s really nice to see the late great Lance Reddick as Charon, the Hotel concierge say like 2 lines (nicer note to remember him on than how he goes out in Chapter 4). Eve isn’t after revenge for a dog, it’s more about her family members murdered by the nasty Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne, still being nasty). A lot of shooting occurs and while Armas does snarl with conviction, a lot of the stunts seem a bit worn out. Not all of it, though, this series can still surprise with something crazy like an extended finale feature flame thrower battles, and a show down of Ballerina with a Fire Hose vs Flame Thrower guy. The series lore has gotten pretty unfortunately dense over the last few installments and this has less High Table stuff and more setting up yet another criminal enterprise. None of the new characters are very engaging compared to the more colourful side characters in the Wick movies. Norman Redus (still mumbling every line) apparently had a long enough break from Walking Dead to film like two scenes in Ballerina as a dad of a kid that the Chancellor kidnaps and Eve has to save in finale. Some action scenes pop but the emotional story of family vengeance never really ignites (unlike the flame throwers, those definitely ignite!).

Seeing John again is cool, but not enough. Somewhat lazily the final scene here is basically lifted almost entirely from the (much better) ending of John Wick: Chapter 2. If they want to expand the Wick universe with multiple planned spin offs (probably to keep it around until they can finally win a Best Stunt Oscar when it arrives soon), then the installments need to have more pizzazz than Ballerina, no matter how much they promise John in the freaking long-ass awkward marketing title and ads.