Rave reviews and contented audiences accurately describes the response to the long-awaited John Wick: Chapter 4, but the recent criticism over Keanu Reeves’ minimal dialogue usage misses the point of the John Wick franchise entirely. Keanu Reeves reprises his role as the legendary hitman in John Wick: Chapter 4 to enact revenge on the High Table council and finally earn his freedom. But in order to secure a life outside the criminal underworld, Wick has to confront scores of assassins led by the Marquis Vincent de Gramont and various highly powered criminal figures.
Although Wick’s epic journey against skilled opponents contains beautifully orchestrated fight scenes and intense action sequences that made John Wick 4 a box office record high for the franchise, the movie was met with some grievances from viewers. The film is a fantastic 169 minutes long, however, Keanu Reeves speaks only 380 words of dialogue throughout nearly three hours of unbridled combat. While his lack of dialogue is obvious, it is also very much intentional, even expected, as John Wick’s strong but silent typecast is integral to the franchise and has long been a staple characteristic of the enigmatic professional killer.
Why Keanu Reeves Doesn’t Need To Speak Much In John Wick 4
As it stands, John Wick: Chapter 4 resumes the lengthy account that began with the death of Wick’s wife Helen and the execution of the puppy she gifted him before passing. Since the tragedy that kick-started the John Wick movies, which forced Wick back into the depths of organized crime, the hit man has been the target for murder across four cinematic chapters packed with ruthless enemies and pressure from the omniscient High Table syndicate. There is little time (or need) for words when Wick’s sole purpose within each movie is simply to avenge and survive, and his plight emphasizes the franchise’s predilection for action, rather than dialogue, as a means to an end.
Action has always been the John Wick franchise’s favored language; comparatively, John Wick is more verbose in the previous films than he is in John Wick: Chapter 4, but his actions have always taken precedence. The franchise gained notoriety for its kill-or-be-killed resolution of conflict, and Wick has persisted throughout, maintaining a prowess with weapons and an elegant fighting style. John Wick: Chapter 4 resumes the sentiment of action and intensifies it, proving there’s not much need for Wick to speak in order to get his message across or for the movie to obtain success.
John Wick 4 Wouldn’t Have Worked With More Dialogue
It makes sense that John Wick: Chapter 4 would feature the assassin in his most stoic disposition. By the time of John Wick: Chapter 4’s release, Wick has killed a record number of enemies, has yet to fully mourn the death of his wife, and is still dodging death sentences intended for his life. It would be strange to witness John Wick, already recognized for his reserved demeanor, expressing any more dialogue than what was presented in John Wick: Chapter 4.
Moreover, the John Wick franchise excels because it champions action as its primary method of storytelling. Excessive dialogue wouldn’t be consistent with Wick’s character or the John Wick franchise as a whole. Despite complaints, John Wick: Chapter 4 made the right decision in limiting Keanu Reeves’ lines and letting the action and subtext of every fight speak for themselves.
