‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ Review: The One Where John Wick Becomes My Favorite Superhero

No Cowl Needed, John Wick Becomes The Batman I’ve Dreamed Of!

There’s a point during ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘ where I had to force myself to stay still. Something about this level of refined insanity makes for the best movie going experience. And then somewhere between John Wick deflecting bullets and brooding, I came to the conclusion that this man has to be a superhero and my new favorite!

This feeling that the man who killed more than 70 people for a puppy might be a superhero can be felt throughout the latest film. There is a “suiting up” that includes making plans, making a bullet-proof outfit, and finding weapons that feels ripped out of a Marvel film. ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘ embraces the campy action qualities but also properly motivates the ridiculousness, making sure to tie up any loose ends.

“You wanted me back… I’m back”
-John Wick (Keanu Reeves)

One of the most satisfying thing about this film is the universe it is building. It feels lived in and comes with a deep mythology that is very slowly unraveling. There’s little to no explanation of how everything really work but it doesn’t matter. It is kind-of like walking into the second film in a comic book universe but never feels confusing. You find these random little quirks about this secret society of assassins and try to piece it all together. I like that the John Wick-universe comes with so much already. Instead of a pointless 20 minutes of introducing all of this, the film just lets you enjoy it.


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I also appreciate the violence and I think “justifiable killings”. It’s a clause for many superheroes to not kill but there is a few dark vigilantes that do. John Wick blows those boys out of the water. He’s brutal and inventive with his kills but he almost magically never hurts an innocent person. Even when someone is trying to kill him…he will give you an option to live IF you can even earn this man’s respect. It’s like if Batman and Punisher turned into a one-man killing force.

Keanu Reeves brings so much to the John Wick character. His usual calm demeanor is used to perfection here and makes him feel that much cooler. I enjoyed seeing him add layers to this performances like his unwillingness to kill a target or his friendships. I’m just happy it never took away from his bad-ass aura; sometimes in superhero films, this kind of background can ruin a character.

Final Thoughts:

I’m so excited to see how far John Wick can grow. For me, he’s become a superhero and a character that many can be invested in. In ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘, all notions of realism are basically thrown out the window but I couldn’t be happier! Making a movie this ridiculous but this well-crafted is hard and I’m happy to see they nailed it.

I recommend any fans of Keanu Reeves or action movies go see this film!


Synopsis: Keanu Reeves returns in the sequel to the 2014 hit as legendary hitman John Wick who is forced to back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers.
[Lionsgate.com]

Genre: Neo-Noir Action
Country: USA
Directed By: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu ReevesRiccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, and Common

EJ Moreno
EJ Morenohttp://Vimeo.com/EJMoreno
Who is EJ Moreno? Is he a trained physician? No. Is he a former Miss Universe contestant? Possibly. With a bachelors degree in film and a love of pop culture, he brings an alternative view to the world of pop culture journalism. Follow him on Twitter @EJKhryst and check out his film work at Vimeo.com/ejmoreno