Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Chad Stahelski, Lionsgate, MA 130 Minutes.
Action star Keanu Reeves returns in director Chad Stahelski’s third sequel of the John Wick franchise reprising his role as the hard-hitting hit man, John Wick, in this excessively brutal, all guns blazing killing spree movie.
This instalment follows on from the previous sequel as Wick is granted one hour’s grace after gunning down a crime lord from the High Table (an international assassins’ association) and declared ‘ex-communicado.’
Besides being stripped of all protection services a $15 million bounty is imposed on Wick as he battles his way through the streets of New York to avoid being killed by hired assassins.
Initially he seeks help from the ballet school director (Angelica Houston – ‘Thirst Street’) who reluctantly agrees to send Wick to Casablanca, unaware that High Table’s Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon – ‘Billions’) has been tasked to dispose of the revenge-seeking assassin.
Meanwhile the Adjudicator has informed Wick’s friend Winston (Ian McShane – ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’), the Continental Hotel’s administrator, and the Bowery King (Lawrence Fishburne – ‘The Matrix’) that they must resign from their respective positions for not stopping Wick.
In Casablanca Wick secures the support of Moroccan manager Sofia (Halle Berry – ‘Kings’) together with her two ferocious dogs before confronting former boss Berada (Jerome Flynn – ‘Black Mirror’) and engaging in a shooting match prior to heading to the desert.
Having collapsed in the desert Wick finally comes face to face with The Elder (Said Taghmaoui – ‘Wonder Woman’) where he receives support to reverse his ‘ex-communicado’ by agreeing to kill Winston.
On his arrival back in Ney York, Wick discovers that the Adjudicator has made plans for special assassin Zero (Mark Dacascos – ‘Ultimate Justice’) to kill the master assassin.
The concluding scenes reveal a surprising betrayal between all the partners in crime and an upended conclusion that will certainly be resolved in a fourth sequel.
Overall Stahelski’s third sequel appears to have a long-winded storyline filled with a succession of killings but balanced by a well-choreographed sequence of action scenes similar to those seen in the Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill’ franchise.
Although the indestructible Reeves is entertaining in repelling the many attacks on him there is a sense of déjà vu as Wick seeks retribution for the many wrongs done to him in this drawn out sequel.
John Wick 3 Parabellum is being televised on 7MATE on Sunday 25 April at 8.35pm.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 Stars
