A disappointing end

By Ty Ruddy Collegian Freelancer

Last week, Lionsgate released the fourth installment of the “John Wick” movie franchise, which sees Keanu Reeves reprise his role as the well-dressed assassin. Against all odds, he attempts to overrun The Table and leave the creed of assassins he has served for so long.

A plot synopsis of the first three movies will help viewers better understand the goal for movie four.

The first movie begins with retired hitman John Wick enjoying married life. Tragedy strikes when his wife dies of a serious illness, leaving behind a puppy for John. When the son of a prominent mob boss robs John’s house and kills his dog, he hunts the men for revenge.

The second movie opens with John once more attempting to live a quiet life in retirement. His plans are cut short when an Italian gangster calls in a favor, and John is compelled by the code of the criminal underworld to oblige him.

John becomes embroiled in an international criminal enterprise that ends with The High Table, a council of powerful crime lords, putting a bounty on his head.

The third movie follows

John’s escape from the assassins trying to kill him. As he runs, he works to uncover the conspiracy behind The High Table.

This installment is expected to be the last starring Keanu Reeves. Unfortunately, the chase and conspiracy that defines the first nine years of the franchise culminates in an anticlimactic fashion.

Although plot and character issues abound, the movie is not without highs. First, it packs exciting action. The directors include new and creative choreography for Wick and his allies. While lengthy, the fights are engaging and serve as an incentive to remain seated during the film’s nearly three-hour run time. Despite knocks from critics that some fights are overplayed, over the top, or drawn out, they work well for the film. on screen, so any talent that he might have is speculative.

At the beginning of the movie, John assassinates a single elder of The High Table. Then, his motivation suddenly changes– he no longer desires to eliminate the table, he just wants to escape it. This decision by the writers plunges “Chapter 4” into the same plot as movies two and three. It dilutes John as a character and erases the buildup created by the previous movie

The cinematographer earned his money with his work in “Chapter 4.” From the blue-green setting of a club fight set to strobe lights, to sunset shots of the Paris skyline, the camera work is impressive.

Plot and character dilemmas are present from the movie’s outset, but show through most clearly at its climax. First, the big bad, the Marquis (Alexander Skarsgård) is random and generic. He has every quality of an assassin but none that make him particularly worthy of being feared. Further, he does not show fighting skill

By the time he fights Caine (Donnie Yen) in front of the Marquis for an opportunity to be free, it’s difficult to tell where the movie has gone and how it got there. Although John Wick ends the reign of the Marquis, he dies at the hand of Caine and the audience is left wondering what they gained.

The abrupt change in plot, along with a later tease that Wick might still be alive has given some hope that a fifth movie will justify the end of this one. For now, however, “Chapter 4” suffices only as a mildly entertaining and anticlimactic conclusion to the series.