Following the tragedy, Winston (Ian McShane), the owner of the New York Continental, brings Eve to the Ruska Roma. There, she meets the Director (Anjelica Huston), who takes her in. In Ruska Roma, Eve trains as a ballerina and a deadly assassin, becoming one of their most capable operatives.
Years later, during one of her assignments, Eve encounters a cultist bearing a distinct mark that resembles one she saw on her father's attackers. The mark reignites her thirst for revenge. Ignoring direct orders from the Director not to meddle with them, due to a longstanding truce between the Ruska Roma and the Chancellor’s faction, Eve turns to Winston for help in tracking the cult down.
Her investigation leads her to the Prague Continental, where a man named Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus) is staying with a young boy. It isn’t long before she discovers the hotel is filled with cultists and assassins, all hunting Daniel.
When the situation spirals out of control, Eve agrees to honor Daniel’s wish to protect the boy at all costs, all the while continuing her pursuit of the Chancellor.
Meanwhile, because Eve disobeyed the Director’s orders, the Director sends her most formidable enforcer to stop her: none other than the Baba Yaga, John Wick (Keanu Reeves).
For a spin-off and sidequel, Ballerina adds very little to the John Wick universe (Wickiverse). While it hints at deeper lore, such as the existence of cults and a sort of peace treaty between groups, these ideas are barely developed and explored.
Ana de Armas is a surprising standout and easily the film’s biggest positive. Her physical performance is strong enough to put her on par with Keanu Reeves' portrayal of John Wick. The dedication she brings to the role is evident in every action sequence. Norman Reedus can also be a great addition, if only he had more screentime to flesh out his character.
Speaking of action sequences, the stunt choreography in this film is so smooth, very well-executed, and consistently impressive. The sound design is also great! It adds an extra layer of impact, making every hit feel intense and visceral. John Wick always deliver top-tier fight scenes, indeed.
But still, action alone is not enough to carry the film. Beyond the fighting, Ballerina comes across more like a standard action movie than a true installment in the John Wick franchise. The story lacks depth and originality, and ultimately fails to justify why this movie matters in the first place. It's also disappointing that the world-building, one of the franchise’s biggest strengths, takes a backseat here. It is hard not to notice that the writing lacks the ambition and creativity seen in the first four John Wick films.
This film has the right lead actor and outstanding fight scenes, but it never becomes memorable or something that I want to watch again. To me, it’s a slightly above-average action movie. It could have been more than just another tale of vengeance. With a stronger narrative, it might have expanded the universe in a meaningful way or made Eve feel like a vital part of what’s to come.
In the end, the main reason to watch Ballerina is for the action. It provides a couple of hours of solid entertainment, but beyond that, it does not offer much.
3.5/5
