I have every belief that John Wick was supposed to be a one time low budget action movie, but with the hope that it would catch on like a revenge fueled Liam Neeson. Never in their wildest dreams did they think it would be a summer blockbuster, but here we are. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the first movie to take the number one box-office spot away from Avengers: Endgame, and it may hold its own against a slumping live action Aladdin this Memorial Day weekend. Why? Because it is awesome.
Much like John Wick: Chapter 2, Chapter 3 takes place moments after the last one ends. John Wick has been ousted from the Continental and declared excommunicado by the High Table. There is a massive bounty on his head, and he has one hour to make a plan to survive. The plan he comes up with involves killing a lot of people. So many people.
Much like Chapter 2, the story telling isn’t flawless. They explain too much of the lore surrounding the John Wick universe for my taste, and in order to explore that lore the movie takes a second act detour that ends up going nowhere. Had he not gone down that rabbit hole nothing would have changed, but it doesn’t matter much because they deliver on what the fans are in their seats for: none stop action.
There are so many amazingly choreographed action sequences it is hard to pick a favorite, and even if I could I wouldn’t spoil it for you. They say they got even more planed for Chapter 4, and I am here for it. John Wick: Chapter 2 upped the ante of the first John Wick, and now Chapter 3 (Parabellum) has upped it again. With the only let downs being the unwieldy name and some iffy plot points. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum may not be perfect, but it is more than worth your money.