John Wick: Chapter 4
Directed by: Chad Stahelski, Written By: Shay Hatten, Michael Finch & Derek Kolstad, Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Runtime: 169 minutes, Release: 2023
Condemned by the tyrannical High Table to be on the run for the rest of his life, deadly assassin maestro John Wick (2014) embarks on a Sisyphean mission of suicidal fury to decide his fate after the merciless carnage in John Wick: Chapter 3 . At last, John's violent journey, fuelled by vengeance and grief, ultimately leads him to a fateful confrontation with his former employers, the crime masters that forced him into exile. And as the blood-stained vendetta to destroy those who pull the strings continues, old companions face the brutal consequences of friendship, and all-powerful, well-connected adversaries emerge to bring Wick's head on a platter. But talk is cheap--now guns have the final say. Can Baba Yaga, the grim messiah of death, make every bullet count in this bloody, once-and-for-all struggle for freedom?
As a fan of the first action-packed John Wick, it saddens me to say that John Wick; Chapter 4 fails to live up to its predecessor's standards, but continues in the vein of each chapter being worse than the last one. While the franchise has always boasted its intense fight sequences and gritty atmosphere, this latest instalment feels like a mere shadow of what made the first film so captivating. There’s only so far that you can go with repetitive action sequences.
One of the biggest letdowns of John Wick 4 is the lack of compelling storytelling. The plot feels disjointed and often struggles to find its purpose. Unlike the first movie, which had a clear sense of direction and purpose, this time it's all too convoluted and failed to engage me, in any way. The film bombards us with mindless action sequences, leaving no room for meaningful character development. There are a couple of scenes that really annoyed me, particularly that of the staircase sequence. It was long, ridiculous and became extremely tedious all too quickly.
The fight scenes, which were the franchise's crown jewels, fall disappointingly flat, which just goes to show that without the catalyst story of the first movie, there really isn’t that much else to hold interest beyond that. The meticulously choreographed and visceral encounters that made the original stand out just becomes entirely monotonous. That’s not to take away from the immense work that Keanu Reeves puts into his character, but that’s just not enough to make it an interesting movie. The fights become repetitive and lack the creativity and innovation that made the first film a visual feast.
The introduction of new characters feels forced and unnecessary. Whilst I enjoyed Bill Skarsgård’s performance as Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont (Bill is always great) and his awesome and constant suit changes, I really didn’t give a toss about the character. Also, in regard to Donnie Yen, not since Tony Jaa in Fast and Furious 7, have I seen an absolute martial arts master be so utterly wasted. Whilst it is always exciting to see fresh faces in a franchise, John Wick 4 fails to create any substantial connection between the audience and these newcomers. Their motivations are unclear, and their presence often detracts from the narrative rather than enhancing it.
Another glaring issue is the lack of emotion and depth in Keanu Reeves' portrayal of John Wick. That being said, as much as I love Keanu Reeves, his problem has always been that he absolutely cannot do dialogue. He cannot emote effectively in any way. Not even when uttering a single word. However, he is Keanu Reeves and we love him regardless.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of John Wick; Chapter 4 is its failure to push the story of the franchise… or find one. All it seems happy to do is continue to try and impress us with action sequences that just feel tired and uninspired. With each instalment, the series seems to settle for mediocrity, sticking to a formulaic approach that lacks innovation and originality.
In conclusion, John Wick: Chaptet 4 is a lacklustre addition to the franchise that fails to deliver on multiple fronts. From a convoluted plot to uninspiring fight sequences and a lack of emotional depth, the film disappoints. Hopefully, future instalments can recapture the essence that made the original a standout among action films, but for now, John Wick: Chapter 4 leaves much to be desired, and I feel that rather than multiple chapters, the film should have stuck with a short story, and ended with the first.