I haven’t shared any in-depth thoughts on “Ballerina” yet, but it’s pretty much the definition of competent and mildly watchable—nothing particularly exceptional.
The review embargo has lifted, and the film currently sits at 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 62 on Metacritic — that sounds about right. Early projections have the film earning $25M-$30M on opening weekend — it cost $90M to produce.
“Ballerina” plays like a female-led ‘John Wick,’ which is likely what director Len Wiseman and behind-the-scenes force Chad Stahelski were going for.
“Ballerina” is a spin-off from the ‘Wick’ franchise, and set between the events of “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” Ana de Armas stars as Eve, a ballerina who becomes an assassin seeking revenge for her father’s death. The cast also includes Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and Gabriel Byrne.
The first half of the film is weighed down by a clichéd revenge plot, while the second half shifts into a semi-entertaining, almost cartoonish action spectacle, featuring elaborate fight scenes and an appearance by Keanu Reeves, reprising his role as John Wick.
Highlights include a brutal shootout during an S&M-themed masquerade party, a flamethrower duel in a snow-covered Alpine village, and a showdown inside a burning convent. This film embraces exaggerations, and almost gets away with it via its slick visual energy.
The film reportedly went through major reshoots, with Chad Stahelski stepping in to oversee new action sequences and bring it more in line with the John Wick tone. It wouldn’t be a shock if the slow, uneven first half came from Len Wiseman, while the explosive, far more entertaining second half had Stahelski’s fingerprints all over it.