John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum | Film Review

John Wick is at it again after a $14 million dollar bounty – make that $15 million dollar bounty – is placed on his head. With all of the organization’s services removed at 6 o’clock sharp following the murder of a member of the High Table, Wick must now complete his personal mission without assistance and with some of the most merciless assassins on his back.

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum drops you into the brunt of the action, with little understanding as to what John is running from (or towards), and why he’s excommunicado. This choice from director Chad Stahelski is an effective one considering we have roughly thirty minutes of set-up. Under different circumstances, this set-up time could become daunting and distract the audience’s investment, but Stahelski knows the action is what draws the crowd in. Man, does he deliver. This decision to start in the middle and simultaneously work backwards and forwards is something Stahelski successfully does with each Wick film.

What sets Parabellum apart from other action films is the perfectly executed choreography. Each sequence is excellently contrived, making every swift motion flow flawlessly. This is, arguably, one of the most intriguing aspects of the John Wick films; the intrinsically distinct style compels audience’s attention and demands we dare not look away.

Keanu Reeves delivers a top-of-the-list performance which, without him, would leave the franchise null, and those aforementioned stunts would not be nearly as delightful. Keanu is precise with his every demeanor, movement, and characterization, leaving us amazed as we watch his performance flourish at every turn. There are certain actors who just solidify their characters and fully entertain the concept, and Keanu is one of them. Everything he says and does is incredibly believable, which cements the feeling of authenticity in Parabellum.

Keanu isn’t the only stunner around here, though. Halle Berry makes her appearance as Sofia, a now manager for the Moroccan Continental, who shares a marker with Wick, and is called to serve that oath by John himself in a time of need. Berry is essentially the female version of Wick – just wants to get by, loves her dogs, and is the bad ass assassin you don’t want to get caught at odds with. With her assistance, John’s mission becomes more clear and the duo allows for a much more intriguing turning point in the film.

Now that every significant assassin wants his head in the grasp of their hands, John Wick is calling in every favor he can to complete his mission, and even finds a fanboy along the way. The Wick franchise loves to run along the lines of “fascinating, kick-ass assassin flick”, partnered with an esteemed level of comedic elements, and this fanboy certainly fits the criteria. Zero (Mark Dacascos) is one of the only killers who can rival John Wick’s ass-kicking chops and make it out alive, but he also happens to be a huge fan of the Boogeyman. This dual dynamic works to add comedy to break up the dialogue-heavy and action-heavy sequences – from the moment of introduction all the way until the end.

Artistically, this John Wick is no different than any other. Cinematographer Dan Laustsen (John Wick: Chapter 2 and The Shape of Water) pairs with Stahelski to ensure that each scene is visually pleasing, with the neon-colored backdrops, illumination, and shots with a high level of fluidity. This also includes the same on-screen captions we’re used to and a stellar soundtrack, which is all part of the unique John Wick theme.

Parabellum is comprehensively an impeccable and pleasing film for its effective casting, visuals, and storytelling. The flaws – where they exist – are mostly minor and have little affect on the overall success of the film (and really are only there if you’re being nitpicky). There’s truly only one plot element that could have used some massaging – or honestly, just get cut from the film, which would have saved on the screen time as well. There are always alternative methods of getting to the point in the story you’re building, and this one plot point felt unnecessary or could have been achieved using another (less time-consuming) avenue.

If you’re on board for some serious ass-kicking, excellent stunt choreography, and some sweet pups to melt your heart as they all cling to John Wick: The Dog Whisperer, then John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the extremely long titled movie you need in your life.

A worthy successor of the prior Wick installments, Parabellum earns four paws.