“No one escapes the Table.” Or so they say.
But John Wick — bless his warm, semi-retired assassin heart– keeps trying. And those around him keep dying.
Yes, the seemingly immortal and perpetually well-dressed John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is back–again–for what may be the final chapter of this storied, violently entertaining franchise. If you made it through John Wick (2014), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), then you know exactly what you’re in for with John Wick: Chapter 4 — exceedingly long, preposterous, engrossing and sometimes funny fight scenes with a body count impossible to calculate; honor codes and protocols galore; friends who become enemies and enemies who become friends; and a dog.
John Wick: Chapter 4 picks up (more or less) where Parabellum left off… with John Wick fighting for freedom from the organized crime syndicate known as The High Table. He’s persona non grata with the Table and its leaders, including the Marquis (Bill Skarsgard) who’s put a multi-million dollar bounty on John’s head and aims to punish anyone who shields John in any way. That includes Winston (Ian McShane), manager of the New York Continental, a hotel chain that caters to assassin folk around the world. (Winston did shoot John at the end of Parabellum, but hey, all’s forgiven there).
All John wants to do is live in peace, sheltered by the memory of his late wife. But that hope is fading with each passing, death-defying day. Until, finally, he sees a possible path toward beating the High Table at its own game–or die trying. Let’s give it a shot, shall we?
The action takes John across the globe– from New York to Osaka to Berlin, and eventually Paris for an epic showdown. All the while, assassins from the world over are hot on his trail, barraging him with bullets, fists, vehicles, swords, tree branches… Fight scenes abound, awash with killer choreography. John Wick movies may be violent. But they are stylin’.
John Wick: Chapter 4 should definitely satisfy fans of the franchise. It’s a bit over-stuffed with a running time approaching three hours, but franchise director (and former stuntman) Chad Stahelski keeps things moving, with Keanu always front and center looking weary, fierce, and dapper.
Once again, it’s impossible not to root for John Wick.
And the dog.
John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in theaters on March 24. I saw it in IMAX– which is certainly the way to go if you want to maximize the experience, in all its visceral gory.