“John Wick” was a fun, fresh 2014 action thriller that added its own little twist to the “boy and his dog” story. Okay, perhaps that’s a tad misleading. Instead let’s say it was a stylized shoot-em-up heavily influenced by Hong Kong cinema and the 1980s action genre. Personally speaking that is a tantalizing recipe and “John Wick” used it to violent bloody near perfection.
The surprising success of the film and eventual cult status lead to a sequel simply titled “John Wick: Chapter 2”. Former stuntman Chad Stahelski returns to direct and Derek Kolstad is back as screenwriter. Most importantly 52 year-old Keanu Reeves (yes, I said 52 years-old) reprises his role as the hard-boiled and well-dressed hitman John Wick. If you weren’t fully convinced of his tough guy status after the first film wait till you see him here.
“John Wick 2” ties up a few loose ends before launching into its own bullet-riddled story. Wick once again finds himself trying to get out of the hitman business, but an old blood oath comes back to haunt him. Weaselly crime boss Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) violently rejects Wick’s unwillingness to honor their pact which catapults John right back into the life he desperately wants to leave.
One of the real treats of “John Wick 2” is how it expands on its wild global underworld network of assassins which lies just under the crust of the world’s biggest cities (in this case New York City, Rome, and then back to the Big Apple). It’s an interconnected outfit with its own rules and codes many of which are shared by the delightfully droll Ian McShane. He returns as Winston, the “manager” of the Continental Hotel which is actually the network’s New York City kill-free headquarters. Other fun characters return including Lance Reddick as the hotel’s concierge and John Leguizamo as Wick’s chop-shop buddy.
There are some lively new faces as well. Lawrence Fishbourne is introduced as an underground crime lord hilariously called The Bowery King. Common plays a quiet yet lethal fellow assassin who shares some fantastic scenes with Reeves. There is also Ruby Rose (“Orange is the New Black”) as D’Antonio’s cartoonish but perfectly fitting mute enforcer.
In addition to the cool mythology and world-building is the energetic gun-fu action which sports a hypnotic choreography as elegantly composed as some of the best musicals. Here killing takes the place of dance and you have Keanu Reeves with a Glock instead of Gene Kelly with an umbrella. As silly as that sounds it’s actually pretty accurate. Stahelski’s stunt coordinator muscle never subverts his storytelling, but it does give us some spectacular set pieces. He also know Reeves well, having served as his stunt double on the “Matrix” trilogy. To make the action as authentic as possible Stahelski put Reeves through an extensive boot camp featuring martial arts, gun training, and driving. The payoff is a hoot.
I’ll be the first to admit that the “John Wick” movies have surprised me. They could have easily been your standard throw-away dreck. Instead they are films that meld a fresh new style with and old-school action nostalgia. “Chapter 2” has a fun time expanding on the first movie and being completely comfortable in the world it has created. There is a beautiful rhythm to the violence and the film never loses its self-awareness or tongue-in-cheek wit. All of that said “John Wick: Chapter 2” isn’t some groundbreaking piece of cinema, but it’s remarkably unique and it operates by its own rules at every turn. I really like that about it.
VERDICT – 4 STARS
Keith & the Movies 
Went to see this yesterday evening and I really loved this. It was the right mix of action and humour too. For example the “casual shooting” they did with the silencer was funny or at the beginning when the guy tells the story about the pencil….
Man I loved the silencer back-and-forth between Reeves and Common. Such a goofy exchange (and I mean that as the highest compliment). Love that scene!
Yeah, it was short but they played it perfectly. Can’t wait to watch this movie again once it is out on VOD.
Same here. I’m really tempted to go back and see it in theaters again.
For me it’s more a time issue as I’ve got an unlimited card else I would go see it again this week 🙂
To be honest that is what will probably keep me from seeing it too. I mean March is just a few days away and that means a slew of new movies.
Looking forward to this!
It’s a lot of fun. Did you like the first film?
I loved the first film.
Good! I think you’ll have a blast with this one too.
I’m so excited to hear John Wick 2 is being well received. The first one is excellent. In typical South Africa release schedule we are only getting this next month while fifty shades can release on time with the rest of the world because there is no justice.
How is Keanu so old?! I news his secret!
*need
Oh that stinks!!! Fifty Shades but no John Wick 2? That’s brutal. Release schedules are the worst. And you had the same reaction as I did on Keanu’s age! How???
And Beauty and the beast in April only! I’m waiting for both of these and can’t see either soon haha
It’s unnatural how young he looks. He could make a whole lot of money with that anti aging secret!
I was reading over my review with my wife and she literally didn’t believe me. She thought I was making some goofy joke. It took some convincing (and Wikipedia) but she finally believed me!
I wouldn’t have just believed that either – he looks 30 haha
I had a blast with this one! Like you, I enjoyed getting a more expansive look of this assassin network. The action was brilliantly choreographed. Most every shot was beautiful and deliberate. Over all, a great experience! Nice post!
Thanks man. A ton of fun, right? I found myself amazed at how extensive they were in creating this highly entertaining world. And although it is absurd, it is so much fun. They have me fully invested!
Absurd indeed, but that’s John Wick for you! 😀 Bring on Chapter 3
Bring it on! Can’t wait.
Caught this the other day. It rules so hard! And I’m with you, I also liked that they fleshed out the world of John Wick—it was nice to see more of what was teased in the first film.
I’m with you. It’s such a crazy vivid world. Can’t wait to see where it goes next!
Good review. Personally, I liked Chapter 2. It wasn’t as heavily as the first one, but Chapter 2 was a lot of fun; a sort of good action flick.
Oh I agree. I had a ton of fun with it and can’t wait to see it again. You wouldn’t believe it on the surface, but they have developed a really entertaining and interesting franchise.
Ahhhhh, I am so looking forward to this one! Great review, and glad to see you had fun with this!
You’re going to have a blast. It’s such a wild ride and it is constantly self-aware through the entire thing. Hope you get to see it soon.
I’m not sure I’m in love with it as much as some people but I did enjoy it, probably more than the first because of its exploration of the assassin world that they have set up.
The world they have constructed is definitely a high point for me too. I love the wacky creativity shown.
I very much enjoyed this one but preferred the first one. That dog scene was horrific but because of it it made the stakes so high for me. I literally cheered whenever Keanu offed someone there. FOR THE PUPPY!
FOR THE PUPPY! That sounds like a slogan that deserves its own t-shirt! 😁👍
I liked this movie! Not as much as the first one but still a good flick!!
I found it to be a surprisingly good follow-up. I’m amazed at how much effort they put into building this wacky but fun world. Bring on Chapter 3!
I know, that’s what I loved most about it, and I’m super disappointed that he’s excommunicated now because he can’t use any of the cool secret passages and coins and stuff. So I’ll really miss that in chapter 3.