From the World of John Wick: Ballerina ★★★

THE ridiculous sub-title ‘From the World of John Wick’ was foisted upon the franchise spin-off Ballerina at the last minute.

Amid claims that the film was forced into re-shoots to improve action scenes and concerns that John Wick wasn’t a part, the studio had allegedly become jittery about the film’s box-office chances.

So, marketing decided to strengthen the connection with not only the sub-title but also advertising that more strongly pointed to Keanu Reeves’ involvement.

Two things to consider here.

Firstly, I don’t think they needed to worry.

While Ballerina may not be ground-breaking in its story, it still delivers more than an hour of very good action and fight sequences including something I have not seen before on screen – a gun battle using flamethrowers.

Secondly, how is the character of John Wick involved?

Well Ballerina is what I call a ‘cousin’ film in that its timeline coincides with the earlier films (apparently it’s set between the events of Chapters 3 and 4). I’ve also heard this type of films called an ‘interquel’.

The Wick character actually appears in Ballerina a little more than expected, including for a fight scene or two.

But, otherwise, the connections to the franchise are predominantly around the visuals and style of the created world of professional assassins and some of the supporting characters who cross-over.

The basic story is a well-worn one. A child’s parents are murdered and she is abducted by those responsible. The parents were part of a crime organisation.

The child eventually escapes and, in this case, is taken in by the same crime family that trained John Wick and other professional assassins.

Years later the now adult and lethal Eve Macarro seeks revenge and risks igniting an underworld war.

Ana de Armas makes a strong impression as the ballerina/assassin, moreso in the physical side of the role than any emotional aspect.

It’s a good thing she does look at home in the action because she has an awful lot of fighting to do, including being tossed around like a rag doll but always coming back harder, faster and meaner.

Almost the entire last hour of the film provides non-stop action which more than makes up for the pedestrian story.

Along for the ride from the franchise cast are Angelica Huston as Eve’s mentor, the mysterious Director, the Continental Hotels boss Ian McShane and his main man played by the late Lance Reddick.

Gabriel Byrne has fun playing a new villain but Norman Reedus, from television’s The Walking Dead, is largely wasted in his role.

Ballerina doesn’t really do much to expand or deepen the world of John Wick, but it does give us a gun fight with flamethrowers. Hell, yeah!

Watched at the cinema.