FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA Review – Killing Eve (Or John Wick: Chapter 3.5)

Introduction

Yes, that’s the actual title of the movie. Not just Ballerina, but From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. I triple-checked it. Lionsgate Films is ensuring that everyone knows Ballerina is a John Wick movie. But that’s not all. Ballerina isn’t just a movie in the John Wick world. It’s a movie that features the literal John Wick in much more than just a cameo role. That’s how little faith Lionsgate has in a spinoff movie that’s ostensibly about a female assassin named Eve (Ana de Armas).

Like all John Wick films, Ballerina exists as little more than an action vehicle with just the tiniest hint of plot and a dash of world-building. Were you hoping Ballerina would shed some light on the High Table? Maybe get some real backstory and depth on the Continental Hotel chain? Or even just any character spending a couple of minutes explaining the hallowed rules of this assassin world? You know – the rules that everyone mentions but that nobody, actually, respects or follows? Well, keep on hoping.

Synopsis

Ballerina takes place between the events of John Wick 3 and John Wick 4. Remember early in John Wick 3 when John goes to a ballet theater owned by the Ruska Roma to meet with The Director (Anjelica Huston)? Me either. But that scene was partially recreated, followed by a quick conversation between Eve and John, to justify this movie’s existence. Eve is part of the Ruska Roma, having joined them as a child after her father was murdered by The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), leader of a mysterious and ruthless cult of assassins.

Again, like the other films, Ballerina gives frustratingly little information about its main entities – in this case, the Ruska Roma and the assassin cult. The Ruska Roma are either assassins, ballet dancers, or both, but their business appears to be security protection rather than murder for hire. Honestly, it doesn’t matter.

When Eve crosses paths with an assassin from the mystery cult, she confronts The Director for more information, but is explicitly ordered not to pursue the cult due to a vaguely referenced agreement between the cult and the Ruska. But the rules of this world are broken all the time, or simply not followed at all in the case of the cult.

Eve wants vengeance for her father, so naturally, she ignores The Director. What morsels we learn about the cult is a fraction of how little we learn about the Ruska. The cult lives in (and fully populates) a secret European mountain village, doesn’t tolerate members leaving, and that’s all we get. Eve’s dad was killed because he tried to leave with Eve. As Eve searches for the cult’s location, she tracks down a cult member staying at one of the Continentals (Norman Reedus). Turns out, he’s doing the same with his daughter.

Discussion

Ballerina gives a token attempt at tying this into Eve’s quest, but it’s just another excuse to show how nobody follows the rules. In this case, an action sequence ensues in which a bunch of assassins “conduct business on Continental grounds,” which is expressly forbidden according to Winston (Ian McShane). Yet, this has happened in literally every John Wick film. This universe is in the dumbest timeline.

I get it, nobody is watching these movies hoping for rich world-building, clever dialogue, well-written plots, or fully fleshed-out characters. No, they’re here for the sweet, sweet action. In that regard, nobody will be disappointed. Ana de Armas is a very worthy choice as the next spotlighted assassin in this ultraviolent franchise. Like Keanu Reeves, she’s convincing as a super assassin. Also, like John Wick, Eve is practically invincible. She never misses a shot, can kill with anything she can get her hands on, and even takes quite a beating on multiple occasions.

Because this is movie number five in the franchise, the action scenes have steadily grown crazier and sillier to keep our attention. I particularly enjoyed Eve taking on a bunch of bad guys within the confines of an arms dealer’s hideout, as well as Eve battling her way through a town where even assassin children are trying to kill her. There are scenes featuring guns, knives, grenades, flame thrower duels, ice skates, and even dinner plates. Yeah, it’s as bonkers as it sounds. And you should love every second of those scenes because, again, that’s why you’re there.

Conclusion

None of the above-mentioned scenes can cover up for an egregious decision made by the filmmakers/studio to indulge in fan service that undercuts the value of Eve. You know, the protagonist of the film? I won’t give away the specifics (the previews featuring John took care of that). However, John’s inclusion in the climax proves how little the writers and filmmakers care about the “World of John Wick” (heavy emphasis on the air quotes) or trust anything or anyone in it, not named John Wick. And that, in a nutshell, is why I’ve always disliked this franchise.

Rating: Ask for fifteen dollars back because this was supposed to be Eve’s movie.

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