John Wick (2014), R, ★★★

Keanu Reeves as John Wick. 

Where has Keanu Reeves been this past decade? The last big movie he did that I know that was actually good was Something's Gotta Give in 2003, but he had a supporting role. As a lead in a movie that was good was, well, I liked it, The Matrix Reloaded in the same year. Revolutions was a dud. I think this past decade he had to reflect on what he was doing with his career in terms of what kind of roles there are in Hollywood. Mainly, he has picked independent projects or spent some time going over what he needed to do to resurrect his career. And, I think this movie is a good start to resurrect Reeves as a lead action star that we know in the '90s.

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is an ex-hitman, who has lost his wife, Helen (Bridget Moynahan) to cancer, and receives a posthumous gift from her and it's a little beagle named Daisy because of the flower on her collar. He also receives condolences on the day of the funeral from the veteran hit man, Marcus (Willem Dafoe). Helen wanted John to have peace in his life and that is why she gave him the dog.

One day, John stops to get gas and three Russian mobsters who includes Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen), son of the mob boss Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist). As John gets into bed, Daisy barks needing to use the bathroom and as they go downstairs, three men starts beating John and one of them reveals to be Iosef. And as Daisy whines and barks, one of the men go to the dog and kill her. (Yeah, that ALMOST got me.) John gets incredibly upset as he goes to stroke Daisy's head. Oh, they are dead now.

Iosef takes John's car to Aurelio (John Leguizamo) who owns a car shop and Aurelio is in a sticky situation between Iosef, John and Viggo as he talks with all three of them in different times of the day. As Iosef returns to Viggo, Viggo reprimands him by hitting him in the stomach and telling him who he is up against. Viggo tries to call and console John as to what happened but John immediately hangs up. Viggo sends masked hit men to kill John and what do you think happens? John kills every hit man since he has not done this business before. It's on!

John kicking some butt as he kills every hit man. 

It is a predictable premise as an ex-hitman comes out of retirement to avenge somebody. But the spin that he is avenging his dog and it's a sweet vengeance. It sounds silly on paper but it is kind of original to witness it on-screen to test his skills such as Liam Neeson in Taken. The difference is the rating, of course. We see bloody action as if it is nobody's business. But, it is an entertainingly skilled film with ferocious action and "gun-fu" sequences depicting the life that all of these criminals and hit man go through. I mean, basically, all of these mobsters go through so much trouble just to kill one person and it gets ridiculous as the body count starts to stack up.

Keanu Reeves is back in form as the title character who struggles with demons and is unleashed and gun battles with every hit man in his way. It is bang! bang! bang! all throughout the film and he's up to the task. Michael Nyqvist is also really good as the villain who goes after him but his demise is underwritten as to why he is mainly going after him.

The film is the surprise of the year because I did not expect to like this movie. I thought it was going to be another routine shootout with lots of bloods, shooting and stabbing. But, it is still another routine shootout film but with a spin and some skillfully written characters and stylish sequences that it was hard to resist this film. It is a fun ride until the very end when it's a little conventional. However, it is the fall B-movie action thriller to see to witness Reeves at his game as he was in the '90s. Take the time and see him kick some ass!

***