Movies

Critics Say Ballerina Brings The ‘Mindless Summer Action,’ As Ana De Armas Leads The John Wick Spinoff

BBG News

After eight long years of waiting, fans of the John Wick franchise eagerly anticipate the release of the spinoff film, Ballerina. The movie, which stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballet assassin seeking vengeance for her father’s death, is set to hit theaters on June 6, 2025. With critics already weighing in on whether or not it’s worth buying tickets, action movie enthusiasts are left wondering if they should catch this new release.

The “Ballerina” spinoff of the “John Wick” series, as mentioned by director Len Wiseman, is essentially a companion story since it unfolds during the time gap between “Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” released in 2019, and the upcoming “Chapter 4,” scheduled for 2023 (which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription).

The movie was enthusiastically appreciated by Tom Cruise (who’s been linked to dating rumors with Ana de Armas), but Eric Eisenberg from TopMob had a different perspective. Despite his low initial expectations, he found himself enjoying the mediocre spinoff “Ballerina.” He awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, stating in his review:

The movie delivers an adequate storyline and character development, though it could use more depth (for instance, the villainous cult remains nameless throughout the film), but excels in delivering high-octane action sequences that leave viewers exhilarated.

According to Clint Gage from IGN, the film “Ballerina” receives an 8 out of 10, with him acknowledging that it starts off rather sluggishly. However, as the narrative unfolds, the movie proves to be a commendable addition to its series, maintaining the captivating elements that attract audiences to “John Wick”, yet managing to establish itself uniquely in an unexpected manner. Gage further adds:

Title Translation: The Ballad of Ballerina: A Rogue Assassin in the World of John Wick

In a spinoff that captures the essence of what’s made the John Wick franchise a hit, we follow a new vengeful assassin called Ballerina as she navigates the underworld controlled by The High Table. As the story unfolds, it maintains the rules established in the original series while expanding the world further. Initially, the film takes time to build its foundation, but once the second act kicks off, the momentum is unstoppable, with Ballerina delivering one hilarious, gory, and inventive fight sequence after another that leaves audiences wanting more.

According to Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com, the film receives a rating of 2.5 out of 4 stars. He points out that the early fight sequences fail to meet the high standards typically set by this series. However, the movie’s latter half delivers enough action to keep you engaged, as expressed by Tallerico: “The second half is packed with enough action to make up for the underwhelming start.”

The film “Ballerina” is a reasonably good action movie, but it may fall short due to being compared to the highly successful John Wick series. It finds itself overshadowed by the exceptional Keanu Reeves-led John Wick quadrilogy, particularly when its flaws are contrasted with the qualities of Chad Stahelski’s movies. However, this new assassin has picked up some tricks from her teacher. Similarly to Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the initial half of Ballerina demands more perseverance than the latter, where the action takes center stage and even the pacing/choreography improves. The final third of Ballerina essentially becomes an extended, rather humorous action scene. It offers the type of unassuming enjoyment one expects from a movie titled “Ballerina” in the John Wick universe.

Brian Truitt from USA TODAY describes Ana de Armas’ film as a “revolutionary” piece, as the actress is highly praised for her impact on the John Wick franchise. Truitt appreciates that her character utilizes unconventional weapons such as flamethrowers and knives for killings rather than replicating John Wick’s gun-based fighting style. He awards the movie 3.5 stars out of 4 in his review.

De Armas powers her way through a barrage of gunfights and fights in Len Wiseman’s exciting side story to the hit action series, titled Ballerina – set in a frosty landscape of revenge. If you found Tom Cruise’s 20-minute biplane stunt thrilling, then strap in for Jennifer de Armas wielding a flamethrower!

According to David Rooney of THR, everyone involved in the film “Ballerina” has grasped their roles effectively, with director Len Wiseman opting not to redesign the wheel when it comes to the franchise’s latest lead character. The movie remains faithful to the high-octane gun-fu series, providing an enjoyable cinema experience for a summer afternoon outing as per Rooney’s assessment. This can be rephrased as: David Rooney from THR notes that everyone in “Ballerina” has clearly understood their tasks, and director Len Wiseman chooses not to alter the formula for the franchise’s new heroine. The movie maintains the intense gun-fu style, making it a perfect choice for spending an afternoon at the movies during the summer, as per Rooney’s opinion.

In this rephrased version: Unlike Reeves’ character John, Eve, our main character, doesn’t exude a calm Zen aura but instead expresses her anger through intense glares, and she quickly discards the tutu, making the title seem somewhat confusing. However, de Armas is captivating with every move, and Wiseman’s powerful direction, combined with Romain Lacourbas’ visually appealing cinematography and a relentless tempo that seldom pauses the violence, results in an action-packed summer movie with plenty of style, but without much intellectual depth.

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2025-06-06 18:40

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