John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum Review: Everyone Loves Keanu Reeves

There is something deeply funny about John Wick (Keanu Reeves) being so much better at his job (that is to say, kill people) than anyone who surrounds him that he has time to reload his weapon several times during a fight . It's not that he's not able to do it quickly – it's John freakin 'Wick, he could do it while he was sleeping – but it's a distinct pauses in action that would be inconceivable in another movie . Each time, a few seconds go by while he stuffs new bullets into his gun and his opponents simply stagger around him. He does not have to rush! It's just that good!

John Wick is a legendary assassin, also known as Baba Yaga. Although he managed to get out of the game for the sake of his wife, he returned after his death thanks to some thugs who did not know who they were playing. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellumled by Chad Stahelski, begins with Wick excommunicating to the World Organization of Killers for refusing to follow the rules. He now has a $ 14 million bonus on his head, a price high enough for almost the entire city of New York to attack.

Of the, Parabellum follows mainly Wick's established formula:

1. The beginning, in which there is an established fight sequence, reminds us that John Wick should not be disturbed.
2. The middle, in which John moves to find information and complete a task that turns out to be – sorry my French – bullshit. This part hangs out a bit, especially if it takes John from New York,
3. The end, in which there is a fight that John wins from a hair, and a rebound occurs that expands the mythology of the world and prepares John for another fight again, later.

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with the Wick formula. The middle trailed – especially in Parabellum, despite a fight scene with attack dogs and a pleasant appearance as a guest of Game of thrones'Bronn – but, my God, are the beginning and the end of a total explosion.

Parabellum also has the peculiarity of being the most stupid of John Wick's films; it's like watching the live adaptation of a cartoon with all mannerisms of characters and sets left out. (This is, after all, a movie that starts with John paying a piece of gold to a taxi driver his dog in a murderous hotel.) Previous actors – Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Laurence Fishburne – composed their characters at the 11th and Wick's beginners – Anjelica Huston, Asia Kate Dillon, Mark Dacascos – have all received the same memo.

The most important thread, however, is that everyone loves John Wick. His notoriety has not only earned him the fear of the murderers who surround him; they love it too. Subsequent fights become training fights, as the assassins are thrilled to be able to confront John Wick himself, enjoying their love of the sport rather than their slaughter. It's a welcome change of pace; Too many fights become monotonous, even if watching Keanu Reeves cut, dice and make his way through New York is always an absolute pleasure.

Keeping the action contained in New York, however, remains the key. The international detour in Parabellum feels like dead air. The ever-growing mythology of hellish murderers is fascinating, but there can be too many good things, and Wick's movies are struggling to keep up with this line. Franchising is more fun when the banal becomes lethal, eg. The "sommelier" of Peter Serafinowicz in Chapter 2, or the whole idea of ​​the Continental. Hotel? For the murderers? Like! ParabellumClimbing, which seems more appropriate, for example, Assassin's Creed, do not quite hit the mark.

Nevertheless, a good sense of fun helps to advance the slowest parts. ParabellumThe lack of self-esteem is well illustrated by the appearance of Jason Mantzoukas (better known for his inexplicably attractive manic energy) as "Tick Tock Man", and by the way Dacascos passes from stoic assassin Stereotypical to a type of brother too serious would fit perfectly into the Fast and Furious franchise. (Give him some spinoff, please!) The movie also insists a lot on the fact that his audience likes the fact that John loves dogs – his pit bull (back from the sequel) is a love , and (spoilers) kept safe from the fire.

Throw a horse to hunt, a Nastymotorcycle-katana fights, and a good dose of electro-Vivaldi, and that's just enough for the Wick formula to work and for the public to ask for more.