Better than Parabellum, shorter than Chapter 4, and everything fans love about John Wick.

After assassins come for her father, a young Eve Macarro (Victoria Comte) is delivered by Winston (Ian McShane) into the care and protection of The Director (Anjelica Huston), head of the Ruska Roma. Nothing comes without a price, as the girl is trained as both a ballerina and an assassin, culminating in adult Eve (Ana de Armas) taking on the role of the Kikimora: a protector of lives… or one who takes them. The rage that drives Eve surges when she recognizes the same brand upon a wrist matching those instrumental in her father’s death, prompting the Director to forbid pursuit of the vendetta — and nothing at all sounds suspicious about that. A marked man named Daniel (Norman Reedus) leads Eve to learn of the existence of The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), setting in motion events that could destroy a truce between the Cult and the Ruska Roma. To ensure a swift resolution, both agree upon an arbiter in the matter: the Baba Yaga himself, John Wick (Keanu Reeves).

Rumors of poor test screenings, reshoots, and amping up dull sequences have popped up about this movie on occasion, even suggesting another director was brought in to “save it.” After Underworld director Len Wiseman completed principle photography, producer Chad Stahelski was reportedly “working on additional action sequences” without Len… refuted by both, claiming the added sequences were something cut out of the script that the studio wanted added back in. Whatever the truth, it’s the kind of reporting that makes movie nerds nervous and critics critical wondering if any of the film is watchable. Fortunately, de Armas has a reputation that precedes her, having believably kicked butts for James Bond in No Time to Die, meaning a further jump into a full-on action films was never out of the question. The trailers look great and many of the actors involved in the series are reprising their roles (including the late Lance Reddick as Charon); what’s not to love?

What made John Wick interesting from the very beginning wasn’t necessarily his fighting skills but an ability to keep going any way he could, like Die Hard’s John McClane on a dose of adrenalin: the man just keeps getting back up. That said, there’s never been an origin story for Mr. Wick since audiences were introduced to the character after he’d retired, but if there were one, it could have been a lot like this. Ballerina is easily the least complicated of all the John Wick movies, and that’s not a bad thing, letting actions speak louder than words. De Armas is all about the action but also looks like she can take a hit, a credit to the stunt team coordinators and make-up artists; it’s no less realistic than anything Wick does, stylizing her combat techniques to someone who doesn’t have as much weight to throw around. Whatever was supposedly added or removed during reshoots, what got up on the screen is seamless and thrilling. Perhaps Ballerina should be up for best editing?

While the ending is remarkably (and reportedly deliberately) similar to another film in the series, the narrative cleverly dancing around an early clue, meaning the sequel being whispered about has already been seeded. As entertaining as Ballerina is, however, we’ve been here before: it’s essentially Lady Wick, a woman of focus. With few words, lots of moves, and a straightforward plot, Ballerina doesn’t waste a lot of time getting to the fun stuff. While Nobody similarly begins like the original Wick at the end of most people’s stories, having a spry and younger assassin like Eve out there isn’t without its merits. Maybe Eve could be instrumental in bringing John back from the (presumably) dead, plausibly having been one of those who helped ensure getting out for good… because yes, Lionsgate would like to have a Chapter 5.

Where Ballerina falls short is in Eve’s inspiration. Earlier scenes depict Eve wanting or even needing to follow in Baba Yaga’s footsteps, presumably to avenge her father while borderline fangirling in Wick-worship, shortchanging the character. Ballerina began independent of “the world of John Wick” and was adapted to fit the narrative, but it’s interesting to ponder what Eve’s story could have been without our favorite puppy-loving, pencil-pushing assassin. Since that ship has sailed, there’s still the sequel to Nobody coming out later this year… but is it also poised to become part of John Wick’s world?

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is rated R for strong/bloody violence throughout, language, and fighting like a girl.

Three skull recommendation out of four