Review of “Ballerina”

A word of WARNING: Do not even think of bringing little kids or even sensitive adults to see “Ballerina.” It is not remotely a family-friendly movie about ballet. Rather, it is an extremely violent John Wick spin-off movie that happens to partially set in a ballet studio.

The heroine of “Ballerina” is a ballerina turned highly trained assassin, seeking vengeance. Her name is Eve Macarro. She works for the same organization, and in a similar professional capacity, as John Wick.

The studio tells us that it is set during the events of “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.” Returning characters from the John Wick world are: The Director of the ballet school (Anjelica Huston) of the ballet school, which is a front for the training ground, the Ruska Roma; Winston (Ian McShane) and Charon (Lance Reddick) as, respectively, the head and concierge of The Continental New York — a hotel for assassins.

New characters are the mysterious Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus), with whom Eve has a fateful encounter at The Continental Prague (another hotel for assassins); and The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), the domineering head of a cult-like army of killers that live in an isolated, picturesque little old-world village (Hallstatt, an idyllic village perched on a glacial lake. Since it is a popular tourist destination, the actual village was likely not destroyed in the making of “Ballerina”).

The many action sequences were under the direction of Len Wiseman (“Live Free or Die Hard” and the “Underworld” films). There are numerous thrilling chase scenes, over-the-top explosions and mayhem, picturesque international locations, intricate fight choreography and a wide array of weaponry, including the expected array of guns, and the less expected, including ice skates, katana swords, ice axes and powerful, deadly flamethrowers.

It is different from a typical movie in the John Wick franchise in that John Wick is trying to get out of his life as an assassin, whereas as Eve wants in to that world, to fulfill her consuming desire for vengeance.

It is similar to John Wick films in that the Eve character is supremely athletic, like John Wick. Ana de Armas — the Cuban-born actress who plays Eve — was all-in for the fighting sequences, and ended up with plenty of bruises in the process of making this film. She insisted on receiving intensive, rigorous combat and stunt training in preparation for her role.

Previously she had action roles opposite Keanu Reeves in “Knock Knock” (2015), “Blade Runner 2049” (2017), “Knives Out” (2019, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination) and the James Bond film “No Time to Die” (2021).

“Ballerina” introduces something new to the John Wick franchise: a distinct style of combat shaped by Eve’s physicality. Instead of overpowering her adversaries with brute strength, Eve is taught to get creative and utilize whatever is around her— including ice skates, pots and pans — as weapons to defend herself. Nothing is off limits.

“Ballerina’s” location base is Prague and surrounding areas in the Czech Republic, with visits to Hallstatt, Austria and Budapest Hungary.

While part of the John Wick franchise, “Ballerina” can also stand on its own.

“Ballerina” will keep you on the edge of your seat and breathless from start to finish. It is best enjoyed in a theater. Its violence is non-stop. I feel somewhat guilty to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed “Ballerina,” but I did. The violence is so over the top that I could not possibly take it seriously, just like sequences in violent video games. It is a fun, exciting entertainment.

“Ballerina” is in theaters now. To see the official movie trailer and for more information, visit https://johnwick.movie/film/ballerina.

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