Ballerina gives Ana de Armas the starring action role she was destined for in the latest film in the John Wick franchise, that thanks to an excellent performance from Ana de Armas and heart-pounding and brutal action sequences, becomes an exciting summer blockbuster that is a worthy addition to the fan favourite action series.

 

Anyone who saw No Time to Die knows that Ana de Armas has that spark to make for an incredible action star after her scene stealing turn as the resourceful and green CIA operative Paloma. That glorious single scene only upped the anticipation for her debut in the John Wick universe as the deadly ballerina of the Ruska Roma that viewers got a quick glimpse of in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, which was announced a mere matter of months before her brief time as a Bond girl. While the film itself was delayed and underwent significant reshoots to rework its action sequences, audiences are finally returning to the world of John Wick with Ballerina, and what an action packed blast it is. As with the other entries in the series, the action is brutal and only gets more exhilarating and entertaining as the film progresses, and with a kick ass performance from de Armas leading the film, it’s impossible not to be thrilled by Ballerina. 

 

It should come as no surprise that the action in Ballerina is absolutely spectacular, given that it is a spinoff of the John Wick franchise which is without question one of the most exquisitely crafted action series of all time. Featuring that same brutally violent, unapologetically bloody set pieces that defined the Keanu Reeves starring films, de Armas shines as she executes the fight choreography with a relentless drive that makes Eve every bit as deadly and resourceful as John Wick. Each scene is crafted with a precision in the choreography that immerses the audience in the danger of Eve’s story, expertly performed by de Armas and the stunt team to ensure that every set piece meets the standard set by the previous films of the franchise. With each set piece, director Len Wiseman and producer Chad Stahelski, who assisted on the reshoots, up the intensity, stakes and madness as they raise the bar with each subsequent set piece, ensuring that the film never lets up for a second. From using ice skates like nunchucks, a deadly gun knife combo thanks to tape, to one unforgettable sequence with a flamethrower and an exhilarating brawl in a snowy mountain village to close out the second act, die hard action fans are in for a treat! Helping to bring to life the action is sensational sound design which captures the sound of every gun shot, punch, hurtling object through the air and the roar of the flamethrower with a clarity and force that helps immerse the audience in the chaos of the film’s action.

Lots has been said about the story of Ballerina and how it is lacking, though I would argue it is no different than the main John Wick films, as remember, those four films are all based around the death of a dog and the killing rampage that ensues. Once again, audiences are treated to a standard revenge driven tale that ticks all the boxes to set the stage for the action sequences. Like John’s story, it's a personal story to Eve and the position she finds herself adds an emotional depth to her character arc as she finds her past repeating itself with her being able to take on the protector role her father was for her. While never short on action, these sequences dominate the story and prevent a more meaningful exploration of Eve’s arc over the course of the film. It is not a detriment as the action slaps in every regard, but had more time dedicated to this would have allowed Eve’s arc to be more deeply explored, Ballerina had the potential to be the most character rich story of the franchise to date.