Hell hath no fury like a Ballerina scorned. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. A dedicated student, she trains feverishly awaiting her first assignment. But, when she discovers the truth about her father’s killer, Eve embarks on a mission to bring justice to her family, no matter the cost.
Directed by Len Wiseman, Ballerina is a suitable kick-off for the first spin-off of the John Wick universe. While the film doesn’t reach the heights of the Wick world yet, Ballerina is an unequivocable blast that leaves the viewer asking for more. With Eve, the franchise creates a character that manages to chart her own course. There’s an intensity to de Armas’s performance that makes her exciting to watch but also a humanity that makes her feel more real.
And, if that sounds similar to Reeves’ performance as Wick himself, the comparisons are intentional. After all, Ballerina never strays too far from its John Wick roots. (In fact, the poster even highlights that this film is ‘from the world of John Wick’.) Roles for fan favourites such as Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, the late Lance Reddick and, of course, Keanu Reeves play out as more important than the casual cameo as most of these characters directly affect Eve’s character journey.
Yet, because of its ties to the world of Wick, it could also be argued that there are moments when Ballerinastruggles to stand on its own toes. Just as the ties to the franchise can help it be accepted by fans, there are moments where it threatens to minimize the importance of Eve’s journey. (After all, if the viewer is just waiting for the next scene with Reeves or McShane, the possibility exists that Eve can become secondary in her own movie.) Even so, these potential distractions never fully derail the film’s story arc and, hopefully, will lessen as the franchise develops on its own.
As Eve, de Armas brings a genuine compassion to her character underneath her lethal abilities. Having been trained as a child assassin herself, there’s a brokenness to her character that affects her actions. What she went through as a child may have defined her but is not something that she wishes upon other children either. It’s this emotional journey that keeps Eve human, preventing her from giving herself over entirely to her dark side. What she does in her quest for revenge, she does for herself. However, she also recognizes the need to free others along the way.
Having said this, it’s also worth noting that Ballerina wisely manages to avoid the more typical ‘motherly’ tropes that can affect female action heroes. Without giving spoilers, Eve may be a woman of empathy for those in trouble but she never takes responsibility for them on herself.
And, make no mistake, Eve breathes fire when she needs to do so.
Similar to John Wick himself, Eve’s character is not meant to be one for talking. Instead, she prefers to work out her issues with vengeance. As Eve fully embarks on her final vendetta, this Ballerina finally get the chance to show her skill. Having proven her abilities as an action-heroine in No Time to Die, de Armas clearly relishes the chance to take the lead and she does so with enthusiasm. Every fight scene features the sort of brutal ballet (pun intended) that set the Wick world apart from other recent action fare. Without question, Ballerina delivers on exactly what the franchise has always promised: jaw-dropping stunt work and choreography. Like the name suggests, this world is known for its stylized and dance-like violence and that trend continues here with stunning results.
Given the opportunity, de Armas absolutely unleashes onscreen, frantically turning everyday items into potential weaponry. (You’ll never look at a pair of figure skates quite the same way again.) Flying around the room with feminine fury, she creates genuinely stunning moments that match some of the best in the franchise. (Without giving spoilers, wait for the moment that de Armas says, “Cool.” The ensuing action sequence gave me actual goosebumps.)
Quite frankly, despite our love for the characters, its these sorts of energetic scenes that bring fans to theatres and Ballerina never disappoints. While Reeves may be the face of the Wick franchise, its moments like these that allow de Armas to carve her own legacy in this world. And I’m already to revisit her in the next one.
Ballerina is available in theatres on Friday, June 6th, 2025.
