Movie Review: John Wick (2014)

John Wick (2014) directed by Chad Stahelski

Ex-assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has the worst day ever. His wife (who was his motivation to quit the assassin business) has died. She had a puppy delivered to him so that he would have someone else to love and take care of. Too bad John bought gas on the way home from buying dog food. Some Russian thugs admire his 1969 Mustang and offer to buy it. He refuses. Later that night, the thugs show up at his house, beat him up, kill the dog, and steal the car. The thugs don't know he is John Wick, but as soon as they try to unload the car at a chop shop, the first of many underworld "businessmen" realize John Wick is involved and want no part. Wick shows up at the chop shop later to find out if his car is there and who the thugs are. The head thug is son of a Russian crime boss, who is understandably upset at his son for angering a grieving ex-assassin of Wick's caliber. The revenge trail is long and action-packed as Wick gets drawn back in to the old life.

The underworld Wick runs through is impossibly posh and stylish, though that fits with the rest of the movie. Most action scenes are brutal with a hard-driving sound track. The plot is strictly paint-by-numbers but is executed with great precision and enough humor to lighten the very dark mood. It's just barely believable but that's not the point in a film like this. Raw action and excitement are what's expected and what's delivered.

Recommended for hard action fans.