Had a nice time checking out the most anticipated film of the year. Starring Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves, Ballerina expands the gritty, action-packed universe of John Wick with a fresh female lead at the center of the chaos. The storyline itself is solid, offering a deeper look into the twisted world of assassins, with a personal revenge arc that keeps the narrative moving. However, while the concept was intriguing, the execution left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.
As expected in a John Wick-style film, there was a lot of killing, almost to the point of excess. The non-stop action, though visually gripping at times, started to feel repetitive and even a little boring. Yes, the franchise is rooted in hyper-violent stylized combat, but this installment may have leaned too heavily on the body count and not enough on emotional depth or creative storytelling.
Ana de Armas is cute and clearly committed to the role, but it was a stretch to believe her petite frame could take down wave after wave of hulking male adversaries. Some fight scenes veered into the realm of the unbelievable, making it harder to stay immersed in the film’s world. That said, Ana brought a vulnerability to the character that was refreshing, especially in the way her character connected with a young girl being groomed into the assassin life. That emotional layer gave the film a bit of heart amidst the carnage. More inside…
Keanu Reeves makes an appearance, though his screen time felt limited. Fans of the original John Wick series might be left wanting more of his stoic presence. Visually, the film was beautifully shot, with its signature dark, moody aesthetic. But at times, it felt too dark, both literally and figuratively, making it hard to stay engaged.
Overall, Ballerina had its moments and added a bit of emotional complexity to the franchise, but it struggled with pacing and believability. Hardcore action fans might love the relentless combat, but others may find themselves wishing for a little more story and a little less slaughter. I give it a 7/10, but worth seeing!
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – in theaters June 6! Starring Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.
