Ballerina: A Worthwhile Addition to the John Wick Universe

 


What's Ballerina about in two words? Fate and flamethrowers. You'll see what I mean. There is more to the film than just the two words I shared, though. To add a few more words before diving in deeper, Ballerina (or From the World of John Wick: Ballerina) is worth your time if you enjoy the John Wick movies.

To describe Ballerina is to describe what you expect in the John Wick franchise. Crazy and memorable action sequences, which in this film include scenes in a nightclub, tavern and of course, the one with the flamethrowers. The strange sense of humor found in this universe. A movie that is very visually appealing and cinematic (both indoor and outdoor locations look fantastic). There are appearances of familiar faces that make sense, such as the Director (Anjelica Huston), Winston (Ian McShane), Charon (the late Lance Reddick) and John Wick (Keanu Reeves). Outside of the effective connections to the existing franchise, what makes Ballerina stand out?

The idea of fate versus choice is an interesting, if sometimes overhanded, theme of Ballerina. It makes sense since the protagonist, Eve (Ana de Armas), was trained to be an assassin from a young age by the Director's Ruska Roma (the same criminal organization that raised John Wick). When Eve goes rogue to enact revenge on her father's killer (the Cult), it brings up intriguing questions. Is Eve her own person by making this choice? Is vengeance the only thing that motivates her? Is she still carrying out the Ruska Roma's will through all of this? Some things to think about while watching Ballerina.

To close, Ballerina is a pretty satisfying entry to the John Wick franchise. John Wick himself is in Ballerina just the right amount and doesn't take the spotlight away from Eve. Ana de Armas brings a good presence to the role, and you're curious to see her character's journey. You'll get to see some creative ways for characters to kill each other, pulse-pounding music and sound effects to accompany the action and feel like you got your money's worth once the credits roll. It should be noted that there are some convenient things to move the plot along, and you might wish this were another film with John Wick as the protagonist, but I'd encourage you to check out the ballet all the same.

Rating:

Green Light

 This is one to see in theaters

Ballerina    125 minutes    R    In theaters

My 2025 Top Movies: The Ballad of Wallis Island, Not Just a Goof and Ballerina



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