"John Wick" - How Keanu Reeves Got His Swagger Back

   

   This Friday marks the opening weekend for the new action flick "John Wick", and if you're a fan of action movies, this one is not to be missed. Keanu Reeves makes his glorious return to high-action form and does so with so much awesomness! I mean, Keanu Reeves hasn't been this bad-ass since donning the shades and trench coat in "The Matrix" films! I internally jumped for joy all throughout this movie, hoping desperately not to fly out of my seat in excitement, ruining the experience for the poor soul who sat behind me. I waited until the credits began to roll before releasing my bubbling joy. This movie, in a word, is just plain fun.

   Reeves plays John Wick, an ex-hitman who leaves the life of an assassin in search for normalcy. He finds what he is looking for through his loving wife. His peace is short lived however when his wife passes away. She leaves John a parting gift, an adorable puppy named Daisy, as he strives to spend his days living as simple a life as he can. When a couple of gangsters unexpectedly decide to enter his life, taking everything from him, John comes out of retirement in order to hunt down those who did him dirty. What ensues is non-stop action and a revenge story for the ages.

   First off, I can't give Keanu Reeves enough praise. He was perfect in this film. The movie doesn't take itself serious and it's a bit over the top, but that's perfectly alright. The gun-play is some of the best I've seen in any action movie before it. Reeves moves with such fluidity throughout each action sequence that you can tell he has completely immersed himself in the role. John Wick is a professional killer and it's evident with every move he makes. He's smart, calculating, fearless, and determined; and Reeves becomes him on screen.

   In all honesty, the cast as a whole is amazing. Willem Dafoe, Alfie Allen, and Michael Nyqvist who plays the principle antagonist, round out a compelling supporting cast of characters that compliment the story completely, helping to bring the world of the story into fruition. It's a beautiful film with great, original set pieces and fun environments. As a whole, I really couldn't find fault with this movie. It's a well-rounded, character-driven, quality-acted, action-packed film that I feel will become a classic over time. Keanu Reeves, with this performance has proven once again that he is a great movie star.

   I saw Reeves' previous film "47 Ronin", which was a fun movie, but it lacked that swagger he seemed to emit in past movies like "Speed" and "The Matrix". In fact, most of his recent work has lacked it. "John Wick" is the catalyst to the reemergence of Keanu Reeves. Like a phoenix from the ashes, he has risen to action-greatness, all in the name of entertainment. To those involved in the making of this film, I thank you.


"John Wick" opens in theaters Friday October 24