John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) (Review)


I honestly dread to think how many people Jonathan Wick has killed since exiting retirement to avenge the malicious murder of his dog, Daisy. The legendary hitman, played by Keanu Reeves, has been racking up quite the body count since his mission for revenge was fuelled and the bullets have not stopped flying ever since, with John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum perhaps registering the most kills to date. How does this third entry measure up to the previous instalments in this most successful series?

With just moments to go before being officially declared "excommunicado" after an unsanctioned killing on the grounds of the New York City Continental, John Wick is a marked man. With a $14 million bounty on his head and every assassin in NYC out for blood, Wick realises that if you want peace, prepare for war (or, in Latin, "si vis pacem, para bellum").

The John Wick series has evolved beyond recognition in its five years with us, becoming the decade's most surprising franchise in an industry that typically chooses to favour the already-established. While the original 2014 effort was part action flick, part character study, the subsequent sequels have expanded the scope considerably, opening up a more complex and contextually symbolic universe to lose ourselves within. While personally disappointed by the second film in the saga, Parabellum returns the franchise to glory, posting its strongest effort to date.

Chad Stahelski returns as director once more, with his extensive career in stuntwork continuing to serve him, and the series, tremendously well in Parabellum. With unmatched visceral energy, and crisply choreographed stunts executed with razor-sharp precision, Stahelski delivers neon-infused, artistically creative set pieces that feel far more effortlessly stylish here than they have before; as one of very, very few to find Chapter 2 increasingly tedious in its garish presentation, it's a relief that Chapter 3 has found greater ease with its aesthetics. With its violence gleeful and fluid camerawork, Parabellum sits with Fallout, Fury Road and Skyfall as some of the most impressive action put to film this decade, with sequence after sequence wringing with energy and thrills.

Keanu Reeves is on reliably tough form as the eponymous hitman, aiding his career resurgence even more so by well and truly asserting Wick as one of the genre's most iconic characters. Tightly-wound, Reeves can sell the intense physical aspects of the role in his sleep but is surprisingly convincing with the brief moments of respite too, redirecting our attention back towards Wick's troubled past. It's no masterclass but the effort and energy Reeves dedicates to these exhaustive stunts is clear, ensuring that Parabellum is not simply a speculative event for audiences; you feel every punch. Similarly, Halle Berry is a fantastic addition to the franchise; while underused, Sofia's backstory is promising and a return would be more than welcomed - especially if she is bringing her dogs along too. Furthermore, Asia Kate Dillon is a fascinating new addition and they infuse the slightest tinge of knowing humour into an otherwise deathly serious role.

The biggest bugbear with Parabellum though, more so than any other instalment to date, is its frustrating use of humour. The four-person screenplay is far too frequently tempted by frustrating one-liners that cut the otherwise tremendously-crafted suspense, landing with a thud when a character declares a "good fight" at a crucial moment, or admits they are a "big fan" shortly before engaging in a tiring scrap that lasts just a little too long to be truly effective. Whatsmore, there's a tighter film in here somewhere: eleven minutes may not sound like the be-all-and-end-all but getting it below the two hours would reduce the second-to-third-act padding and the somewhat too-indulgent finale. To the writer's credit there are some thematic flourishes in here regarding class that promise a potent conclusion to this story moving forward.

After a truly fantastic opening act, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum does lose some steam into its second half, where the film's poorly-placed humour and bloated runtime really begin showing -- but with the set pieces coming thick and fast, and always so strongly choreographed and visually slick, you will be hard pressed not to find yourself engaged in this solid action spectacle. With Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves giving it their all, Parabellum brings the John Wick saga back to glory, while preparing us for the war ahead well.

7.5/10

Summary: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is an impressive continuation of this surprise franchise, with Keanu Reeves' committed performance and director Chad Stahelski's background in stuntwork crafting a creatively brutal (although slightly frustrating) threequel.