It’s official: Ana de Armas is a certified, bonafide action star! I’m a casual fan of the John Wick franchise; having seen them all and enjoying the brutal action insanity over the years. So I was cautiously optimistic that this spin-off, with de Armas’ star power, would yield a net positive entry into the franchise. That cautious optimism paid off because Ballerina features some of the most bonkers action sequences I’ve seen in some time. It’s off-the-charts bananas. I was thinking prior to the lights going dim in the theater: “what novelty can they add to the action in this franchise that hasn’t already been done yet?”
That reservation was quickly squashed throughout the film that features eye-poppingly creative uses of weaponry and environments. My favorites include grenades, flame-throwers, and readily available kitchen utensils. And to her absolute credit, de Armas attacks each fight sequence with fierce, calculated intensity. She trained her ass off and it shows with the breathtaking choreography. My jaw dropped in awe multiple times. Just incredible action.
One could argue that the story is too basic and hollow, and I wouldn’t disagree. Revenge is a simple formula. But isn’t that what made John Wick, John Wick? That’s what this franchise is. Ballerina should be given the same storytelling grace as it stays true to the core ethos, while adding engaging lore to this superhero assassin world; strategically injecting easter eggs per its place in the timeline (during John Wick 3 / before John Wick 4).
The performances from returning and new supporting characters were mostly successful. I’ve always been a huge fan of Gabriel Byrne ever since The Usual Suspects, and he adds mesmerizing menace as the main villain who’s the target of Eve’s (de Armas) fury. Keanu Reeve’s inclusion in the story also felt like the right amount: just a little bit at the appropriate time, but not overstaying his welcome and overshadowing Eve. This is her story and her ass-kicking. On the other hand, Norman Reedus’ appearance in the story as an accidental ally felt rushed and unimportant. That was a miss.
Sure, Ballerina doesn’t offer deep, meaningful, novel storytelling. The archetypes of the various stakeholders in the world of blood capitalism are what we’ve seen many times before from this world. But the home run performance from de Armas, specifically her physicality as an action star, combined with the bonkers innovation with fight sequences and the usual high production value/filmmaking craft, makes this film a worthy entry in the John Wick franchise and will undoubtedly feed hungry action fans well. I cannot wait to watch the grenade sequence again. So brutal. So cool.
