Lots of low-key hype turned this into a must-see for me.

What’s It About? When the son of a Russian crime boss steals his car and kills his dog, retired assassin John Wick sets out on a quest for revenge.

STRAIGHT UP: I loved it. Razor-sharp storytelling and action. 9.5/10

What I Liked

Excellent exposition – A series of poignant opening scenes establishes the connection between John Wick, his late wife, and his dog, and makes the relationships feel meaningful. I became emotionally invested in the protagonist and the plot – a rare experience when watching an action movie.

Subtle worldbuilding – There’s a whole extra dimension to the story of John Wick that isn’t immediately apparent – an underground society of assassins, complete with its own rules and symbols, that interacts with John throughout his mission. Without ever directly explaining anything, the film gradually builds this entire fictional world in the margins, adding intrigue and depth beyond the main plot.

Complete storytelling – Every character and every plot point in this story is made relevant at some point, and every loose end is accounted for by the time the credits roll. No other film that I’ve experienced this year has had such a carefully constructed narrative.

Mythologizing John Wick – It’s easy for an action movie to talk about how awesome and important its protagonist is, but this film is able to really show it through its attention to detail. The way John Wick completely disrupts the fully-realized setting effectively sells him as a godlike figure.

Choreography informed by the character – Even the action scenes contribute to building John Wick as a focused, highly effective assassin. His attacks are quick, precise, and deadly; fatal headshots abound.

The dance club scene – Probably the best pure extended action scene in recent memory.

What I Disliked

Occasional awkward dialogue – Dialogue in this film is sparse, which makes a few awkward lines and flat deliveries so much more conspicuous, and so much harder to forgive.

Keanu Reeves as John Wick – Keanu seems comfortable in this role, but his performance is, as usual, a bit too stiff. He may not be a liability to this film, but he’s not an asset, either.

CLOSING THOUGHT: It’s unfathomable to me that Ouija beat out this film to win the box office over the weekend. John Wick is an outstanding entry in its genre, the sleeper hit of the season, and one of the best-made films of the year, to boot. I’m afraid that there’s a chance John Wick will go the way of Edge of Tomorrow – a movie featuring a down-on-his-luck star that totally delivers, but that nowhere near enough people go to see. For that reason, I will be asking a special favor of my readers here. Please go see this movie, and tell your friends about it. If I’ve ever written a review that needs signal-boosting, this is the one. Moviegoers deserve smart, comprehensive action films like this one. Make sure to send the message.