John Wick is Why We Still Go to Movie Theaters

The plot is not complicated. An assassin takes an impossible job to get out of the business in order to spend more time with his dying wife. She dies, but gives him a reason to live – a dog. Some prick kills the dog, and the assassin goes back to work. John Wick doesn’t need a complicated, dramatic plot to be the reason why we still got to movie theaters.

I’d been jacked to see John Wick since Doug Benson recommended it on his podcast, “Doug Loves Movies.” John Wick is the perfect film to see with a large audience on the big screen, so when my cousin and I got to the Grand Theater in Bismarck, ND, my favorite theater in the world, I was nervous when the place was packed. If it was sold out there were plenty of options. There were so many good films I wanted to see, including St. Vincent with Bill Murray, but there was no thought of seeing a dramedy at my favorite theater. The only thought was to see the best Keanu Reeves’ film since The Matrix.

John Wick is so action-packed I actually forgot all about my e-cigarette, which I tend to smoke through entire movies since I gave up chewing tobacco. I didn’t use it once because I was on the edge of my seat for all but the first 10 minutes of the film.

The fight choreography is so different from that of The Matrix, and it was pretty impressive to see Keanu grappling. My cousin said it was the best wrestling action he’d seen since Warrior (2011), and rightly so.

It’s not just the action that makes this film so fun to watch. There’s plenty of comedic relief provided by Keanu, Willem Dafoe, John Leguizamo, Lance Reddick, and even the bad guy, played by Michael Nyqvist. The cast is impeccable. Alfie Allen is the perfect guy to hate, and it’s not just because he kills a puppy. His character is just a bitch. No pun intended.

If Expendables can turn into trilogy, John Wick should spawn five or six sequels. The revenge story still plays well in theaters, but the box office doesn’t indicate it. The film has made just under $40 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, but why? These films are the very reason for going to the theater. With home theater systems becoming 3D and Ultra-HD, the only thing the theater offers that your home doesn’t is an opportunity to see insanely loud action on a screen three stories high with hundreds of like-minded people there for the same reason.

THE VERDICT (88/100): John Wick deserves your time and money. It’s badass. When I say it’s the best Keanu film since The Matrix I mean it. Although, I really like Constantine, but I think this is better. It’s certainly better than 47 Ronin. Go see it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. And buy it when it comes out. Use the Ebates button below to get cash back when you shop online.