The most recent entry into the John Wick franchise, John Wick: Chapter 4, hit theaters on Friday, March 24. It’s undeniably a success both in reviews with a 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes — from critics and audiences — and in box office, opening with the highest ticket sales number — $73.5 million — of the franchise.
If you’ve seen any of the preceding John Wick films, you know that they’re far more than brash, emotionless and mindless endeavors. But Chapter 4 takes it to a whole new level. It’s a visually stunning movie, and there really aren’t enough words to describe just what they achieve with the cinematography and colors and shots.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is certainly not a perfect movie. With a nearly three-hour run time, it’s probably about 30 minutes too long. The High Table storyline about who is excommunicado and what all the unseen powers care about that got a little out-of-hand in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum still exist.
But at some point, you just sit back and enjoy watching incredible set pieces featuring some of the most ridiculous fight scenes you’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for Keanu Reeves driving around the Arc de Triomphe in a muscle car with no doors as a series of assassins try to keep him from a duel at Sacre Coeur, well, you’re in the right place.
It’s a movie that decks the major villain — Bill Skarsgård’s “Marquis” — in impeccable clothing and takes us from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to the Louvre in Paris.
Plus, it has Donnie Yen.
Yen’s character Caine is a blind assassin, trained in martial arts and carrying a very sharp cane. The role is similar to his Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One, but dressed in sharp turtlenecks and cool jackets.
Old friends, new enemies. This Friday, Donnie Yen faces off as Caine in #JohnWick4. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/6tjdaYZDoV pic.twitter.com/nWoo8bNTEg
— John Wick: Chapter 4 (@JohnWickMovie) March 21, 2023
Keanu Reeves speaks no more than six words together at a time, uttering just 380 words total across the entire 169-minute movie. For those wondering, that works out to about 2.2 words per minute. And it works.
Throw in a stellar supporting cast that includes Ian McShane, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson and the late Lance Reddick, and you have the formula for arguably the best entry into the series. And with the success Chapter 4 has seen, don’t count out a fifth entry (no matter how improbable that may seem).
Oh, and don’t worry. No dogs are harmed in this movie.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is in theaters nationwide.