John Wick 3 Review

Rules are important in the world of John Wick, and even the deadliest assassins must abide by them. However, some rules are made to be broken, and nobody seems to understand this more than John Wick himself. In fact, the reason why we find our titular character in so much danger during the third installment of his journey is due to his blatant disregard for a respected law within the inner circle of his former associates. It’s fun to watch John Wick break the rules and go against the consequences, but it has always been the trilogy’s disregard for the common rules and tropes of action movies that has made these films so renown. Always binding itself to a level of outrageousness that keeps each scene feeling unpredictable and profound.

After two films that consist of nonstop violence, John Wick 3 raised a serious question on whether the nothing-but-action story would begin to feel exhausted. But director Chad Stahelski’s smooth direction partnered with the endlessly flowing imagination of recurring writer Derek Kolstad have once again created a film that is hard-hitting and over-the-top. Though not without its faults, John Wick 3 continues to dish out the intense and exhilarating buffet of action that the series has become known for.

John Wick 3 begins less than an hour after the end of John Wick 2, following the impeccably dressed former hitman in downtown Manhattan. Branded “excommunicado” with a $14 million bounty on his head set by the all-powerful High Table, actions made in retaliation to John killing one of its members on the sacred grounds of the Continental Hotel, John Wick must find a way out of New York while having to protect himself against the highest skilled killers from around the world.

Even for the standards of this franchise, John Wick 3 ramps up the action to an invigorating level, producing excessive and grandiose fight choreography that will be considered some of the best that the modern action genre has to offer. The fantastic sound design and mixing adds layers to each scene, with every punch, kick, knife swing or gunshot having a palpable weight to it. The violence and energy from the plethora of combat scenes is what continues to work best for the film, but it’s the character of John Wick that remains so surprisingly engaging. It’s a remarkable achievement to have a consistently likable protagonist over three films despite little character progression. Keanu Reeves once again has very little dialogue in John Wick 3, but it’s the stoic resolve that he gives the character that continues to make him so alluring.

John Wick 3 is at its best during the intense hand-to-hand combat scenes, but unfortunately the film is bloated with many less creative shootout sequences that often feel stretched out or that lack suspense. Many of the setups to each scene become repetitive as well; John Wick walks down a crowded street, eventually passing by a group of thugs, they look at each other and nod silently as to communicate “that’s him”, only to follow John and become another tally in his ever-growing kill count. Although many of the set pieces that ensue are exciting and original, they can also become numbing, with some scenes feeling more like pointless entertainment than plot development. John Wick 3 also feels front-loaded, with the films most memorable moments coming within its first half.

Although the narrative of the film is never as bulletproof as its lead character, John Wick 3 invigorates with its remarkable and abundant set pieces that will surely leave many wanting another installment.

Although moments in John Wick 3 can be stale or intemperate, it once again brings the heart-stopping action that many fans crave.

Produced By: Summit Entertainment
Runtime: 130 minutes
Rating: R