Lastly, here is a film that solutions the query, “What would occur if two folks shot flamethrowers at one another?” In “Ballerina,” issues get off to a particularly bumpy begin, plodding together with an virtually alarming dullness. After which, abruptly, “Ballerina” finds its footing and begins unleashing one delightfully absurd motion scene after one other. The underside line: any time the movie leans into motion, it is a blast. Anytime it slows all the way down to have characters ship dreary world-building exposition, it is an absolute slog liable to place you in a coma. Maybe all of the motion will likely be sufficient for some viewers, and I will confess there are a number of violent eventualities right here that had me laughing with glee and appreciating their inventiveness. However gosh, every part surrounding these motion scenes is an actual drag, man.
Because the advertising and marketing makes clear, “Ballerina” is a spin-off of the “John Wick” franchise (the posters go as far as to present the movie the extraordinarily clunky title “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,” regardless that that title by no means seems on display). Each trailer has put Keanu Reeves’ monosyllabic murderer entrance and middle, as if he have been a major participant within the narrative. To be truthful, John Wick finally ends up taking part in an even bigger half within the movie’s finale than I anticipated, however that is little greater than a glorified cameo. Nonetheless, I get why Reeves is slapped all around the trailers: we love him.
The “John Wick” movies work for many causes — the motion is nice, the filmmaking is trendy and thrilling, and there is an more and more advanced lore to get wrapped up in. However let’s be trustworthy: the largest draw of these movies is watching Keanu Reeves kill a bunch of individuals. We do not actually care concerning the mythology — we care about watching Keanu Reeves in the course of all of it. This can be a speculation the franchise has already confirmed: in spite of everything, when was the final time anybody talked concerning the Reevesless TV spin-off collection “The Continental”? Did you even keep in mind that existed? In all probability not.
Ballerina takes too lengthy to get going
Whereas Reeves will get some moments to shoot weapons in “Ballerina,” the movie can also be making an attempt to launch the franchise in a brand new course with a brand new major character, Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro. To her credit score, de Armas, an alluring, charismatic performer, is very succesful right here: we fully purchase her kicking the ever-loving crap out of a collection of anonymous henchmen as she carves a bloody path via the movie. However “Ballerina” lacks the operatic, virtually legendary mayhem that made the Wick movies so memorable. Satirically, having Reeves pop up all through “Ballerina” serves as a distraction. John Wick’s story was so clear, so centered in his personal films that it actually does not make a lot sense for him to be right here. It appears extremely unlikely that he would give a rattling concerning the occasions happening in “Ballerina.” Why not let our new heroine Eve have the highlight in her personal story? In all probability as a result of that story is not all that attention-grabbing.
Like “John Wick,” “Ballerina” makes use of revenge as its launchpad. When Eve was a toddler, her father was murdered by a mysterious man performed by Gabriel Byrne. Orphaned, Eve is taken in by the ritual-loving assassins referred to as the Ruska Roma, and raised as a part of a ballet faculty that teaches its college students to each dance and kill folks (this group, fronted by a recreation Anjelica Huston, was launched in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” and “Ballerina” is about between the occasions of that movie and “John Wick: Chapter 4”). Eve grows as much as be a extremely expert murderer/bodyguard and seemingly forgets all about avenging the homicide of her father … till a random encounter fires her up once more.
All of this unfolds within the first hour of the movie and it is such tedious, exposition-heavy stuff that I discovered myself sinking in my seat. Is that this actually what you need to give us, film? This drudgery? I am sorry, however having Wick characters like Ian McShane’s Continental proprietor Winston and the late, nice Lance Reddick as Charon, the resort’s concierge, present up does little however remind us of different, higher films. However all is just not misplaced, and “Ballerina” lastly begins to thrill when it has Eve participating in a collection of more and more outlandish (complimentary) motion scenes.
When motion scenes occur in Ballerina, they’re fairly nice
In a single sequence, Eve battles a collection of unhealthy guys utilizing nothing however a collection of hand grenades, and I’ve to confess: I’ve by no means seen that in an motion film earlier than, and it is enjoyable to look at (at one level, she jams a grenade into some poor dude’s mouth then makes use of a metallic door to defend herself whereas he explodes). Ditto a second the place Eve and one other character begin smashing dinner plates on one another’s heads like they’re in the course of a Three Stooges skit (the Stooges even get a shout-out within the movie). The motion is genuinely thrilling (though I’ve to marvel how a lot of it was shot by credited director Len Wiseman, and the way a lot was created throughout reshoots undertaken by “John Wick” franchise filmmaker Chad Stahelski), however there’s actually not sufficient of it to maintain “Ballerina” afloat.
There are neat concepts right here and there. Byrne’s character, referred to as the Chancellor, leads a whole city filled with assassins who’re a part of a cult, and the concept of a cult within the sophisticated, labyrinthine world of “John Wick” is doubtlessly thrilling. Sadly, the script, credited to Shay Hatten, has no actual curiosity in exploring who they’re or what they need. Byrne is an excellent actor and he is appropriately grumpy right here, however he is given completely nothing to work with. He largely simply stands round complaining.
As for Eve, she’s just a little lackluster, though de Armas is making an attempt her greatest to repair that. John Wick was an interesting character as a result of Reeves made him so stoic and mysterious. Certain, he was in search of bloody revenge over the homicide of a cute canine, however he was additionally grappling with grief and a long time of violence. We will really feel the load of the world urgent down on Reeves’ shoulders. Eve, in distinction, is type of a clean slate. John Wick managed to really feel advanced whereas saying only a few phrases; Eve talks extra however comes throughout as relatively one-dimensional. I totally believed she was able to beating folks up, I simply did not discover her that compelling.
Ballerina may provide you with whiplash
“Ballerina” makes for a conflicting expertise. Time and time once more, I assumed the movie had misplaced me — just for a intelligent, humorous, and well-staged motion sequence to abruptly arrive and kick my ass. The tip consequence gave me a little bit of whiplash: I went from not having fun with the movie to having the time of my life in a split-second, after which again to being bored once more.
Finally, all of it started to put on just a little skinny. I do know Lionsgate is hellbent on holding the “John Wick” universe alive (they’re planning on making an entire new movie with Reeves regardless that “John Wick: Chapter 4” felt like the right finish to the character’s story), however “Ballerina” suggests there’s solely to date you possibly can stretch this premise at the beginning begins to develop stale.
It does not assist that the filmmaking is ceaselessly flat. The “John Wick” films, notably “John Wick: Chapter 4,” are visible feasts with photographs that take my breath away. “Ballerina” is surprisingly bland to have a look at. Certain, it is a variety of enjoyable watching lovely murderer Ana de Armas choose up a flamethrower and burn some dudes to a crisp, however a movie that includes such an thrilling idea should not be this forgettable.
/Movie Ranking: 5 out of 10
“Ballerina” opens in theaters on June 6, 2025.
