Excellent Adventure

Rating: 10/10 (26 October 2014)

This is the perfect middle-aged progression of the ass-whipping genre. We've still got it! We can still kick booty! The movie doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't, and delivers everything it is supposed to; graphically violent, but hey, its gangsters getting offed, so the heart strings stay intact while the pulse-pounding action ensues. The fight scenes were well executed, unique, so the predictability didn't matter. One does find oneself saying, "Really? Get another car and dog". I would have changed the dog explanation, instead of "it gave me hope", which didn't make sense, something about it being the last gift from beyond the grave of his beloved wife to remind him of her wishes for his future, thus a personal reminder of walking away from dirt like Ioseph, which would have been a better segue for Viggo's speech. The gas station scene could have made it a little clearer Wick was tenuously hanging onto inexplicable aggressions after losing his wife prematurely, later made clear when we discover the truth of his occupation. Gripping fingers white on the steering wheel? It also needed some explanation why Wick only had a beagle puppy for an alarm system, unlikely for a former hit man. Former, not ex. Ioseph might have explained when Viggo is chastising him for riling the Boogeyman, "That explains why his security system was so good; we almost didn't get in". One line. Then show Wick disarming it before the big home invasion. So many intriguing touches like the "dinner reservations", the gold coins, the Carlton, and Ian McShane running it. Although I don't think he should have called John "Jonathan", totally different name unless they spelled it Jon Wick. Great to see Keanu Reeves in a movie that he was perfect for and in. Totally believable in the roll. Like many attractive men, his looks have evolved into "distinguished", and more awesome to watch on the big screen. He has that star charisma that never fades and it's too bad we don't see more of him. Almost no role was a throw-away: John Luguizamo; perfect, Willem Defoe; spot-on, Michael Nyqvist; riveting. Really well cast all of it, although Dean Winters' role seemed strangely superfluous. And, of course, we wanted Wick to get his car back! Maybe when the hotel manager slid car keys across the counter and said it was a gift, Keanu recognizes his Mustang keys, slides them back and says, "Hang onto that for me, I'll take what I came in". Definitely buying this when it comes out on DVD.