JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 – Review

I’m guessing that a lot of action blockbuster movies aficionados have been thinking that the multiplexes have been pretty quiet this year so far. I mean the second AVATAR swam in just before the end of 2022. As usual, the Winter has seen lots of horror thrillers, plus a couple of superheroes swooped in for the latest installment of their respective franchises. Ah, now there’s another franchise that brings a smile to the “big stunt spectacle” film fans. The fellow at the tentpole’s forefront doesn’t have a “tech suit” or a sculpted rubber and cape ensemble. No sir, though his fighting attire is a simple black suit, filled with a massive arsenal. His skill is his “super-power”, as we turn the cinematic page to JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4.

As the film opens the air (and the theatre’s audio system) vibrates from the pounding fists of Mr. Wick (Keanu Reeves) as he trains in the underground lair of his old pal, the Bowery King (Lawrence Fishburne). From there JW is dispatching the head of The Table in a quiet desert. But that assassin agency is tough to stop. Like the hydra of legend, another head pops up to take the last one’s place. Back in NYC at the sanctuary hotel, the Continental, manager Winston (Ian McShane) is startled by the arrival of the Harbinger (Clancy Brown), who orders the place to be evacuated in an hour’s time. With the aid of the concierge Charon (Lance Reddick), it is done. But Winston’s remaining “muscle’ is no match for the crew that serves and protects the High Table’s new head, the Marquis (Bill Skarsgard). He strips Winston of his duties and plans to demolish the establishment. The story shifts to Paris where the Marquis extorts a former agent, the blind assassin and friend of Wick, Caine (Donnie Yen) to track down his pal. But it turns out that he’s at the Continental…in Osaka, Japan. John is in hiding, under the protection of Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), much to the ire of his daughter, the concierge Akira (Rina Sawayama). But the battle comes there as Caine, the Marquis’ elite guard, and a “freelancer” named Tracker (Shamier Anderson) attack. When their effects fail, Wick meets with Winston in NYC to hatch a plan. In order to earn his freedom, Wick will challenge the Marquis to a one-on-one”old-fashioned” duel. But Wick must be part of a “family” and since his “paper was torn” he must go to Berlin and be “reinstated” by the Ruska Roma. All of those “frequent flyer” miles finish on the streets of Paris as a city-wide chaotic war of skilled killers concludes with a final showdown at dawn.

Whew! talk about “workin’ hard for the money” (I can almost hear Donna Summer crooning)! With his fourth outing in the tile role, Reeves proves himself to truly be a “man of action”, due to his stoic, very rare, line delivery. Actually, he may have less dialogue in this over the entire quartet of flicks. But yes, those actions speak volumes, whether he’s scoping out a plan of attack, or giving a look of aggravation as he tosses away another empty ammo cartridge (imagine if he got a “return deposit” on them, like the old soda pop bottles…oh the dough). Oh, but Skarsgard feels almost “chatty” as this story’s evil mastermind as he tries to temper a sadistic grin, while his evil eyes dart about, keeping everyone around “off balance”. He has the posture and manners of a fancy gentleman but inside lurks a rabid beast. The greatest addition to the series is Yen, as the reluctant nemesis. He relies even more on body language as his non-functional eyes are shielded by a pair of dark shades. Yen reserves his movement until he has a “purpose” and a “target” (that “head tilt” is the “go signal”). McShane is still silky smooth as Winston, though he’s placed more in the “center of the storm” here with everything to lose. He and the late, much-missed Reddick as Charot are a terrific team. And McShane is a nice counterpart to the boisterous flamboyant Fishburne as Wick’s “corner man” (or Alfred to JW’s Dark Knight). Other “newbies” of note are Anderson’s “dinero-driven” Tracker, who loves his bank statements as much as his loyal canine sidekick, Sawayama as the hotel (and Daddy) defender Akira, and Brown as the somber solemn Harbinger.

To call this an action extravaganza would be a true understatement. It certainly subverts the old “law of diminishing returns” with sequels. By the time most franchises get to the fourth entry, they’re usually showing signs of fatigue. With this new outing they really want to give the fans lots (and I mean lots) of bangs (and fights and explosions and chases) for their bucks. Plus this may be the most “globe-hopping” of the series, rivaling the Bonds and Bournes, and Impossible Mission teams for the far-flung locales. The mayhem begins in the Big Apple, shifts to Japan, then to Berlin, before giving the “City of Light” a chance to shine, making the cinema setting feel fresh and replacing romance with danger lurking just past every bistro. “Upping the ante” considerably is returning director Chad Stahelski who gives the chaos a lush gleam via the expert showcasing of the exotic exteriors and interiors, from the palace of the Marquis to the neon cool of the Osaka hotel, to a stadium-sized techno dance hall bathed in glistening non-stop rain. Of course, as the carnage continues, the authorities are nearly non-existent, perhaps due to the power of the High Table, eh? Well, that’s a bit “nitpicky” since the legions of fans (are they Wick-warriors) will be ecstatic (and yes the “head shots” are staggering). I can imagine that the video storyboards for the stunt sequences were more intricate than most animated features. Big colossal kudos to the army of superb stunt people whose coordination and physicality rival all the dancers in the MAGIC MIKE trilogy. And praise must be given to the sound team (sitting in the back row I felt as though the vibrations gave me a nice “spine treatment” as a bonus). Sure, you may want to question the “physical endurance’ of the title character, but set aside science and buckle up for the high-octane thrill ride that is JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4.

3.5 Out of 4

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 opens in theatres everywhere on Friday, March 24, 2023