Lionsgate was all the time going to wish to take the John Wick franchise in a brand new course if it needed to maintain the movie collection going after the inevitable exit of its central star. A spinoff series got here and went with a telling lack of fanfare that spoke, partially, to how John Wick tales really feel like they have been meant to be skilled in film theaters. And whereas the studio has a second tie-in show in the works, it looks as if one other challenge which may wind up being an indication that John Wick works finest on the silver display.
On paper, director Len Wiseman’s awkwardly named From the World of John Wick: Ballerina function sounds just like the kind of simple parallel prequel that might work as the start of a brand new chapter for the bigger franchise. There’s a simplicity to the story and a comedic whimsy to (a few of) its motion that feels true to the John Wick model. And there are sufficient returning faces from the older movies that it really works pretty nicely as a crash course introduction to this gore-filled world of assassins.
However in observe, Ballerina lacks numerous the near-camp aptitude that made earlier John Wick movies enjoyable, and most of its set items really feel uninspired. Reasonably than utilizing its story to indicate you the way an abnormal individual learns the ins and outs of the murderer way of life, Ballerina spends most of its runtime riffing on narrative beats from different motion movies. Which may have labored if the film’s main actor delivered a compelling efficiency that bought her character because the collection’ rightful inheritor. However Ana de Armas’ performing — particularly in comparison with that of her co-stars — falls too flat for its personal good.
Set between the occasions of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, Ballerina chronicles the rise of Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) as she turns into one of many world’s most-wanted employed killers. As an orphan raised inside the Ruska Roma, Eve is aware of that she’s destined to comply with within the bloody footsteps of her adoptive mom, the Director (Anjelica Huston). However a part of her nonetheless yearns to depart her violent life behind to pursue a profession as a ballerina. It’s a dream that Eve’s father (David Castañeda) inspired her to carry onto throughout her childhood whereas he labored to maintain their small household protected and much away from one other clan of lethal assassins. However after being pressured to look at his homicide by the hands of the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) as a baby, Eve locks that a part of herself away in an effort to concentrate on revenge.
As one of many Ruska Roma’s strongest younger college students, it doesn’t take a lot for Eve to persuade the Director to let her begin occurring assignments to take out and / or defend high-profile targets. However when certainly one of her missions brings her face-to-face with a member of the Chancellor’s clan, she breaks protocol and begins looking extra of them down, realizing full nicely that her adoptive household will take swift motion to cease her earlier than she units off a struggle.
In comparison with previous John Wick movies, there’s a roughness to Ballerina’s choreographed fights that’s meant to spotlight how comparatively new Eve is to working within the area and the way, due to her small stature, she needs to be inventive in her strategy to taking up bigger opponents. Whereas Eve finds herself in loads of shoot-outs, the movie usually leaves her with nothing however her wits and no matter mundane objects (moderately than weapons) occur to be laying round.
It’s an concept that works nicely sufficient all through Ballerina’s first act, once we’re first proven her signature transfer of utilizing her body weight to snap individuals’s necks and arms. Although Ballerina’s script cribs some story beats from Kill Invoice and Marvel’s Black Widow, the movie’s motion is traditional John Wick in the best way its brawls emphasize the artistry of stunt preventing. However because the movie progresses, it shortly turns into clear that Eve doesn’t have many different tips up her sleeve, and the few that she does have are inclined to really feel like steps de Armas is counting her method via.
Appearing has by no means actually been the large draw for John Wick motion pictures, however there’s an emotionally picket high quality to de Armas’ efficiency that makes Eve onerous to purchase as a fancy, conflicted character. That is particularly obvious in scenes between Eve and Ballerina’s different returning characters from John Wick’s previous like New York Continental proprietor Winston Scott (Ian McShane) and lodge concierge Charon (the late Lance Reddick in his ultimate on-screen efficiency).
The place Ballerina does work nicely is in moments the place it embraces the cartoon vitality that’s all the time been current within the John Wick franchise and served to offset the visceral brutality of its brawls. It’s robust watching Eve slash individuals’s faces to shreds with ice skates on her palms, but it surely’s wildly enjoyable watching her use a fireplace hose to sq. off with somebody wielding a flamethrower. De Armas’ awkwardness truly looks like extra of a function than a bug in scenes that double down on the concept Eve is studying on the job and nonetheless getting used to the ridiculousness of being an murderer on this heightened actuality. However Ballerina insists on returning to a critical tone that does no favors for its lead actor.
It’s simple to think about Ballerina actually shining with a bit bit extra live-action cartoon vitality and a story that really felt like a journey via the world of John Wick. However for that form of time, we’re going to should wait for whatever the franchise has next.