John Wick - B

Rated R, 96 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

"John Wick" a stylish, violent revenge drama

The entertaining and smart "John Wick" is hardly anything new. The revenge flick has been kicking around since the Charles Bronson days, and while "John Wick" is predictable even from the first frames, you'll still have a good time in a serviceable entry in this genre. An ex-hitman named John Wick (Keanu Reeves) comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. Directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Derek Kolstad, "John Wick" is not a revelatory film, though it's often fun and enjoyable seeing Reeves handle all those huge weapons he goes after the bad guys with. "Wick" is also terribly violent, though that's why it could become a hit at the box office and help reinvigorate this genre along with Reeves film career, which has stalled lately. Surprisingly, it also features a few talented names popping up in brief roles throughout the film: John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Willem Dafoe and Bridget Moynihan all appear, though this is really Reeves show, and the role that requires minimal emotion (but some emoting) seems well-suited for the actor, who looks good for his age (50). The film's fight scenes are the highlight, and there's plenty throughout the movie, and you have the sense that the bad guys, no matter how bad they are, don't stand a chance against this guy. Creative, energetic and robust, "John Wick" is a must-see for those who enjoy these violent revenge flicks, but know there's few, if any, surprises, that come from it.