When a franchise is built upon stunts, there’s an unspoken rule for each subsequent sequel to be better than it’s predecessor. It’s the type of work ethic that inspired Tom Cruise to climb the Burj Khalifa and then hang outside of a plane. With John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Keanu Reeves has joined the list of action stars willing to go above and beyond for the craft.
When we catch up with the eponymous hitman, he’s on the run (once again) through the rainy streets of New York, with beloved dog in tow. The assassin’s guild known as the High Table has put out a large sum for his death, leaving John with nowhere to go and desperate for allies. While his future is uncertain, what is certain is that bullets will fly, knives will slice, and Keanu Reeves will get the snot kicked out of him many, many times.
Audiences show up to the film because Keanu’s name is at the top of the poster, but his ageless presence often makes us forget that he’s 54 years young, and still doing all of his own stunts. And there are quite a lot of stunts to be done, including knife throwing, sword fights, gun-fu, jujitsu, wrestling, motorcycling, and, in a weird but awesome turn of events, horseback riding. Each flip, punch, tumble, and blow that that John Wick deals or gets dealt is fully Keanu. His dedication is on full display, and the film is all the better for it. He’s in ample company with his newest costar, Halle Berry. Playing Sofia, a Casablanca-based former flame of John’s, Berry matches Reeves note for note, bullet for bullet, punch for punch, having trained months for this brief but demanding role. In the film’s most thrilling set piece, John, Sophia and her faithful German Shepherds engage in a vicious shootout to escape Casablanca, allowing both actors and both dogs to show off their best combat skills.
The ensemble cast is more extensive this time around, with both new and old faces appearing as friends and foes of John. Returning allies Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne are given the most to do, giving opportunities and aiding John where they can. Without venturing into spoiler-laden territory, other new characters include the Director (Angelica Huston, milking her Russian Accent for every ruble it’s worth), the Tick-Tock Man (Jason Mantzoukas), and Zero (Mark Dacascos), all of whom create and fix problems for John. Despite the veteran cast members, the two standout performances are given by lesser known actors. Non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon brings an intimidating presence to the Adjudicator, full of grit, elegance, and class, as they puppeteer John Wick’s demise over the course of the film. Lance Reddick, back as fan-favorite concierge Charon, gets a piece of the action this time as he defends the Continental and all its assets.
Director Chad Stahelski, back in the director’s chair for the third time around, knows what the audience loves and dials it up to ten. These films have never needed good scripts, they just need to be cool, a quality Stahelski has in spades. John Wick riding a horse? Cool. A hotel concierge with shotgun skills? Cool. Dogs that can crunch an opponent’s groin with their bite? Very cool. But beyond the cool, there is a strong sense of style present throughout the entire film. DP Dan Laustsen makes ample use of the film’s neon-soaked color palette and reflective glass set pieces, delivering engrossing long takes that keep us in the heat of the action at all times.
With John Wick 4 in development, one can’t help but wonder if the franchise is waning on stunts, weapons, and ways to kill numerous hitmen. There is plenty to go off of, as Parabellum sets up the fourth film to what will inevitably be a bombastic conclusion. The question that must be asked is how the film can progress to new heights. The stunts have always been on a ground level, majoring in hand-to-hand combat and gunfights. Considering the most out of the box this film dared to get was putting Keanu on a horse, the expectations must be raised for the next film. All that said, Parabellum is an impeccable feast of stuntwork and an overall beautiful action film. This will inevitably stand the test of time as Keanu’s greatest combat achievement yet.
Grade: 8/10
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