John Wick: Chapter 4 is both somber and funny. This episode delivers some of the best action in the series.
John WICK: Chapter 4 faces a lot of pressure. Chad Stahelski will direct the film. This is because the film has to live up and fulfill the promises made at the end of the last entry. It also has to meet the expectations of those who’ve been following Wick’s struggles against criminals, assassins, and murderers for almost a decade. John WICK: Chapter 4 understands this and doesn’t try to alter the formula. It does what it knows and does it very well. John WICK: Chapter 4 is a fantastic new film in the series. This entry strikes a perfect balance between elevating the action of the previous films while giving it enough unique energy that it stands out. John Hood: Chapter 4 has all the elements you need to make it as exciting and entertaining as possible.
Following John Wik: Chapter 3 — The Parabellum incident, John has been physically cured of the betrayal committed by Winston (Ian McShane), putting him in danger of his death. While he was previously trying to make peace, his fury over the actions of the High Table forces him into a more direct (and risky) approach to get his freedom from their world. He set up a duel that could alter the entire organization. This strategy generates the fury from the High Table — personified in Bill Skarsgard as the Marquis de Gramont, a foppish and dangerous member of that group. He has been given unlimited funds to eliminate Wick.
The Marquis recruits several people to target Wick. These include a reluctant Caine. Donnie Yen is an old friend and fellow assassin, who has his reasons for keeping the Marquis satisfied. Wick’s remaining allies, which include Winston’s loyal concierge Charon, the boisterous Bowery King, and Osaka’s Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada), are finding targets to target Wick. A third wild card is Nobody (Shamier Anderson), a young assassin looking for John’s enormous bounty.
This film is just over three hours. John WICK: Chapter IV is a big movie that doesn’t feel overwhelming. The film’s craft and pace keep it moving at a quick enough speed that viewers will lose track of their time among the impressively choreographed and beautifully shot fight scenes. The film ignores all the twists, and turns of previous entries and lets the action unfold as it is. This confident choice makes John Wick a more natural character than a mere character. Reeves does an excellent job of bringing out the humanity and exhaustion within John Wick while also dispatching untold numbers of enemies through some amazing stunt work.
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A supporting cast can help with character arcs and storylines. Nobody, Caine, Winston, and Caine are all given surprising depth. The decision works in favor of the production, especially as John Wick becomes an unstoppable power. His unwavering determination and strength allow his character to flourish. The film has a wild kill number. Even compared to other films in the series. It is entertaining enough because of the skill on display. You’ll find car chases, fistfights, shoot-outs, long fights, and all the rest. But there is also room for humor and heart. Yen is the standout in a cast that features strong performances and good performances. Yen’s portrayal of Caine in a tragic mirror of John, someone who wants an escape from a life full of death and danger but gives up on the High Table — makes it the most compelling and tragic antagonist Wick faces. It also allows Skarsgard’s big-screen debut as the Marquis. This makes him a foppish, thematic heir to those villains who began the series.
John WICK: Chapter 4 might be the most fun entry in the series. The film’s soft moments, which are bittersweet and somber, work well. They serve as a reminder of the fragile humanity that has been the foundation of John Wick’s vengeance-fueled rampages. Some beats feel a bit underutilized (such a long sequence that teases his origins), but the majority of the film is a testament to how style mixed with substance can make great movies. John Wiz: Chapter 4 was a massive effort but is well worth it.
John Wick: Chapter 4 opens on Mar. 24.