Director Len Wiseman‘s “Ballerina” doesn’t have much in the way of story or substance, but it makes up for it with stylish, bloody violence and impeccably choreographed, non-stop action that helps cover up how shallow it really is. This isn’t a great movie taken on its own, and most everything about it is forgettable. But when added to the “John Wick” universe, it fits right in.
The story follows young assassin-in-training Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) and her time spent with the Ruska Roma, the same underground network that gave glimpses of brutality in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.” This time, Eve steps into the spotlight as both a ballerina and a hitwoman, driven by the murder of her father at the hands of a mysterious Cult. Driven by rage and revenge, Eve travels around to kill as many bad guys as possible on her quest for vengeance.
The story runs parallel to the events of “Parabellum,” but no previous knowledge of any of the franchise’s films is necessary. This installment tries to fill in a few lore gaps and deepen the mythos of the Ruska Roma, but it never really adds much weight. Instead, it sticks closely to the Wick formula: an unrelenting cycle of stabbings, brawls, shootings, and even death by flamethrower, all served up with a frantic style punctuated by grim-faced elegance.
De Armas is surprisingly well cast, bringing strength, grace, and just enough emotional core to Eve to keep things believable. She’s not just mimicking John Wick, but brings a great energy to the role. Eve is faster, quieter, and more precise, and it’s a lot of fun to see a woman kicking ass. Keanu Reeves shows up at a couple of points during the movie, as cool and monosyllabic as ever, to pass the torch with minimal fuss.
The film looks great and features the now-signature Wick visual style: moody lighting, slick production design, and long takes that let the fight choreography breathe. The violence is balletic because Eve is trained as both ballerina and assassin, and the stunts look very lifelike. Despite the fights being competent and stylish, they rarely reach the thrilling heights of the best set pieces in the main franchise. This film is more a string of good action scenes than anything truly memorable.
Let’s be honest though: the Wick movies were never about story above style, and fans are going to enjoy this one regardless of any critical nitpicking. “Ballerina” is thin on plot but heavy on body count, never asking the audience to do more than sit back and enjoy the carnage.
