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A mediocre action film that is greatly helped by weaving itself into the fringes of the “John Wick” universe and also by a strong action-filled final act. The plot isn’t much different than any other revenge action film, and while the lore of the “Wick” films helps this movie stand out, there are a few plot elements that come up that hint at something that could be more interesting only for them to be dropped or left unexplored. (Apparently, the film’s producer came in and reshot a good portion of the movie, so it’s unclear how much that changed the finished product.) The film boasts a fair amount of new and returning franchise characters, but most of them get shockingly little screen time. The acting is fine for what’s called for, with Ana de Armas anchoring the emotional moments well and really delivering when it’s time for the action. Unfortunately, while she is more than up to the task physically, most of the action sequences never quite get above average. Also, the famous “Gun-Fu” made famous by this franchise is in short supply, which is strange because it would be a more believable way for a person of the de Armas’ size and strength to hold her own against multiple opponents that are bigger and stronger than her. Thankfully, the final act gets creative with the death and destruction and presents some memorable moments.
**1/2 out of *****