John Wick Review

RYAN: Let’s get this out of the way off the bat – I’m not a Keanu fan.

CAROLINE: I don’t think many are.  He’s not the most natural of actors.

RYAN: Exactly!  It’s like he never lost that surfer twang from Bill & Ted’s or something.  But as far as this movie is concerned it really doesn’t matter whether you like him or not.  It’s such a cool movie that really does everything right for the action genre – it’s like the perfect example of an action movie in some ways.  And in all honesty, I liked Keanu in it.  His performance is very good.

CAROLINE: Wow I never thought I’d hear you utter that sentence in association with one Keanu Reeves.

RYAN: I nigh!  But there it is.  So let me tell you why this movie’s so cool.

CAROLINE: Please do.

RYAN: It hooks you emotionally, right from the start.  I was actually disturbed and upset but immediately locked into caring about Keanu’s character and that’s a real strength to the script.  I won’t do spoilers, of course, and it’s certainly a bit manipulative and a movie has free reign to do so.

CAROLINE: Interesting.

RYAN: The design and ambiance of the film makes it more suspenseful and grander.  It’s not a James Bond movie but it has it’s own sense of chic style. And I enjoyed Willem Defoe and even John Leguizamo in a brief role.

CAROLINE: They’re good.  How’s the action?

RYAN: It’s great.  It really moves and the film it’s timed perfectly.  It’s an hour and forty minutes and that’s just right.  It’s pretty violent – 84 kills in this according to EW magazine.  But I was so into it and the best action movies are those that bring something original to the action.  Some of the fight choreography is so great that I literally shouted out a couple times.  That’s what makes a good action movie, I think.  And this one is actually co-directed by Chad Stahelski, Keanu’s former stunt double from his Matrix movies, so he certainly knows a thing or two about choreographing stunts.  It’s marvelous to that extent.

CAROLINE: It makes me think of the Mission Impossible movies and how there’s always something new to see there.

RYAN: Yes. I have to tell you there’s such a cute dog in this movie; like the cutest dog in a movie since As Good As It Gets.

CAROLINE: Oh that dog was cute.  And I’m not even a dog person.

RYAN: I am a dog person and I fell in love with this puppy!  Too cute.

CAROLINE: Oh I know about Too Cute! (laughs)

RYAN: The soundtrack and cinematography are also great.  Look, it’s not an awards-movie but it’s really hits the spot for a fun, fast, action movie with a great hook.

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