Movie Review - John Wick

John Wick *** (out of 5) (R) Keanu Reeves stars in a rather standard-issue revenge flick, stylistically bearing more resemblance to shoot-em-up video games than to cinematic crime fare. He plays a go-to hit man for Russian mobsters who was allowed to retire from the biz for true love about five years earlier. But just after his wife dies, the son of his former boss unwittingly messes with the wrong guy, and at the worst possible time. Thus begins the ensuing bloodbath.

Reeves’ eponymous character is described as being so cold-blooded and efficient at his former craft that he’s not the Boogeyman - he’s the one you send to kill the Boogeyman. It’s a natural vehicle for Reeves, since few displays of emotion, or even lines of dialog, are required. Willem Da-friend-or-foe (you’ll understand when you see it), Ian McShane, John Leguizamo and Bridget Moynihan appear in roles that are surprisingly small for such a non-prestigious piece of escapism. Directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, both having plenty of experience in flicks trading far more heavily on brawn than brains, deliver all the adrenalin rushes one might hope to find in an efficient package. Leave your cerebral functions in the car; this one’s all visceral. In fact, I probably shouldn’t have used the term “eponymous”; it’s thematically overqualified. (10/24/14)