The world that John Wick inhabits is one of danger and violence…like, a lot of violence.  John Wick is a throw back to the 80’s and 90’s action movies that preferred style over substance, even starring a man, Keanu Reeves, who rose to prominence as an unlikely star during that time.  What makes this movie so good is it’s obvious love of those films but taking things to another level, both on the action and the story side.  Don’t take that to mean that there’s some intricate plot at play here, there isn’t as we’re introduced to a man who has his car stolen and his dog killed and decides to annihilate everyone involved.  What I mean is that it’s well told and well communicated, John Wick’s motives are quickly explained and then we’re off, onto the reasons everyone came to see the movie, bad ass action.

The action in John Wick is violent and constant, as Reeves navigates his way around an unknown city and a world that is foreign to us but very familiar to him, violence is menacing around every corner and can happen at anytime.  As characters are introduced and backstories are explained there is general interest in what’s happening but seriously, we just want to see people thrown through the air and shot in the face and Reeves just be a bad ass, and it all works.

One thing I think important about movies is expectations.  Sometimes it’s best to go into a movie with absolutely none and sometimes expectations are needed.  I think what makes John Wick so enjoyable is knowing what it is going in, just a fun, shoot em up action flick.  Going in expecting more and you may be disappointed, but turning it on and expecting a joyride of violence and you’ll walk away with the same smile that I had.

Recommend? Hell yeah and then settle in for 101 minutes of awesome action.