"John Wick: Chapter 4" Review Round-Up: Bigger, Badder, Bolder
If any current franchise out there rivals Mission: Impossible and Fast & Furious for the sheer audacity of their action set pieces, it is John Wick. The series, centered on Keanu Reeves’ un-retirable hitman, is set to release its fourth chapter, and critics are saying it’s the craziest, biggest, boldest installment yet. How good is John Wick: Chapter 4? IndieWire‘s Rafael Motamayor writes that it’s the best action blockbuster since Mad Max: Fury Road. Considering Fury Road is widely considered the best action blockbuster of the 21st century, this is not a minor statement.
Wick’s rival in John Wick: Chapter 4 is Bill Skarsgård’s villain Marquis de Gramont, and he’ll be sending a legion of top-flight assassins after our humble, un-killable hero, who will once again be deploying the gun-fu style he’s been honing for years now. Director Chad Stahelski returns to shepherd the mayhem in Chapter 4, with Marquis de Gramont offering Wick his freedom, but only if he can defeat foes from across the world who appear as skilled in the deadly arts as he is. The set-up lets Wick prep for the big match like a boxer preparing for his title fight. You want nunchucks, car chases, battles on horseback, fighting with axes and swords? Chapter 4 brings all that and more.
Chapter 4 was written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. Joining Reeves and Skarsgård are Ian McShane, Donnie Yen (who critics are saying is the film’s standout), Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, and Scott Adkins.
Now, let’s take a quick peek at what the critics are saying:
I was blown away by many of the action sequences in #JohnWickChapter4. This is definitely the biggest & most badass JOHN WICK movie yet w/ a runtime near 3 hours & an ending everyone will be talking about. No one does action like this – it’s on another level. Part 4 simply rules. pic.twitter.com/OWTkO3nuOt
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 7, 2023
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 is going to make every action filmmaker not named Chris McQuarrie lose sleep. I have no idea how they pulled off the final hour. If you liked the first three (and of course you did), you’ll have a blast. Keanu forever.
— Jacob Hall (@JacobSHall) March 14, 2023
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 is a stunning feat of action filmmaking. The ambitious stunts, cinematography, & sound have never been better. Keanu Reeves continues to push his body to the limit while Donnie Yen & Hiroyuki Sanada add real gravitas to the most epic film of the franchise yet pic.twitter.com/mSIOXWMWpR
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) March 7, 2023
I had reservations about John Wick: Chapter 4’s nearly three hour runtime, but the movie earns it. It’s an epic with smart pacing that never lets the action feel exhausting, and the set pieces are phenomenal. Great cast of series newcomers, but Donnie Yen is the MVP. #JohnWick4 pic.twitter.com/xyMbLXmXUM
— Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) March 6, 2023
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Review: The Best Action Blockbuster Since ‘Fury Road’ https://t.co/OtWpdL4sk4 pic.twitter.com/exdYCbWoWY
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) March 14, 2023
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Is One Of The Best Pure Action Movies We’ll Probably Ever See https://t.co/ctmmkuwkiM
— UPROXX (@UPROXX) March 14, 2023
JOHN WICK – CHAPTER 4: The last hour of this is so incredibly conceived and executed that my jaw basically dropped for the whole thing. Pure cinema. It’s phenomenal.
— Brian Tallerico (@Brian_Tallerico) March 14, 2023
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 is a friggin’ AMAZING kick-ass action movie! The most epic JW yet with stunts that will rock your world & the #SXSW crowd really went wild! These “John Wick” movies keep getting better & better, but will this be the last?? #JohnWick4 #KeanuReeves pic.twitter.com/gcAncUxaG8
— Scott Mantz (@MovieMantz) March 14, 2023
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Review: Latest Entry in Keanu Reeves Franchise Is Pure, Over-the-Top Action Spectacle https://t.co/KnxzwSOugx
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 14, 2023
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 is an absolute banger. Earns every bit of that runtime, with Keanu Reeves once again performing the most insane stunts and Chad Stahelski providing some of the best action filmmaking. The third act and finale had the whole crowd cheering like no other #SXSW pic.twitter.com/UmzKGSR7Ds
— kevin l. lee @SXSW (@Klee_FilmReview) March 14, 2023
For more on the John Wick franchise, check out these stories:
“John Wick: Chapter 4” Trailer Finds Keanu Reeves Back in Black
Keanu Reeves to Return as John Wick in Ana de Armas-led Spinoff “Ballerina”
John Wick 3 Costume Designer Conjures Elegance Amid the Carnage
Featured image: Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick 4. Photo Credit: Murray Close
