2014’s John Wick introduced one of the most iconic characters in film. It also created a fascinating world within the film. A global connected network of hotels that house hit men and women, switchboard operators that feel like they were ripped out of the 1950’s, a set of rules, a set of consequences, blood oaths, and gold coins for criminal transactions.

They world also introduced a female led group of assassins known as ballerinas. They train to be ballerinas as well as getting the combat training you would need to be a lethal assassin.  

Ballerina takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. It follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is taken in and trained under the watchful eye of the Director (Angelica Huston) and the Ruska Roma, after her father is murdered.

During one of her missions, Eve comes across a man with the same distinctive brand as the men that killed her father. Despite being warned by the Director not to engage, Eve lets her blood thirst for revenge leads her to the dangerously violent cult responsible for her father’s murder.  

This is just like the other films in the Wick Universe. Most of the runtime is Eve slicing, dicing, and murdering her way through a legion of bad guys. There’s a sequences of crazy fights until the final showdown with the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). 

The screenplay by Shay Hatten is paper thin at best. It’s a flimsy revenge story that’s main goal is to carry the audiences from one badass fight sequence to the next. That isn’t to say the script is bad, but its goal isn’t to give deep exposition or provide some deeper context to the violence on screen. It does manage to be very funny at times with some running gags and witty one-liners. One of the best laugh-out-loud moments involves two people making a “business decision” because of John Wick.  

While there are aspects of Ballerina that feel like a by-the-book revenge story, what works is the balls to the wall action. If you’re curious if Ballerina or Ana de Armas could carry the action this franchise is known for, do not worry – the Wick Universe is in good hands. The action isn’t just Ana de Armas as a fill in for Keanu Reeves; there are different fighting styles and approaches to taking out bad guys. Her character Eve doesn’t use all the gun-fu that John Wick does. She uses a lot of knives and basically anything she can get her hands on. 

There are three set pieces that showcase the beautiful brutality Ballerina offers – Eve visiting to “tailor” to visit their weapons cache. When all hell breaks loose, they deliver some amazing grenade deaths, and the final one is amazing. Eve entering the town has an amazing fight sequence through the town that delivers some great kills and funny moments.  

The films big moment doesn’t come during the final showdown but a few scenes before with an over-the-top flamethrower fight. It’s as ridiculous as it towns and more awesome than you’d expect. It might be one of the best action sequences in the entire Wick Universe.  

Keanu’s cameo as John Wick is awesome. The film does a good job tying him into the story in a way that feels organic. Thankfully he’s in more than just one scenes.

Ballerina isn’t just an incredibly entertaining film; it’s one of this year’s stand out films. Fans will be pleasantly surprised not only that the film is a worthy entry into to the world of John Wick films; they will also be very impressed with how good Ana de Armas is as Eve. There is hope that franchise can carry on for a few more years.   

Grade: B