Review: Ballerina

25 September, 2025 William Eguizabal 0 Comments 2 categories

Title: Ballerina
MPA Rating: R
Director: Len Wiseman
Starring: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane
Runtime: 2 hrs 4 mins

What It Is: When Eve (de Armas) was a young girl, assassins came for her father. Their mission was to kill him—and once that goal was achieved, Eve was sent to a dance school that secretly doubles as a breeding ground for future killers. Now grown, Eve sets out to find those responsible for her father’s death, no matter the cost. Along the way, she faces all manner of foes, including one very familiar assassin: the Boogeyman himself. Will she survive long enough to get her vengeance, or are the odds stacked too high?

What We Think: Man, I really wanted to like this—but it’s just not very good. Ana de Armas isn’t the strongest actress, and she doesn’t really pull this role off. Len Wiseman has never been much of a director, and this has his stamp all over it: all style, no substance. Some might say, “Well, it’s just a dumb action movie,” but this is a John Wick spin-off—a franchise known for tight direction and jaw-dropping action sequences. That’s not what we get here. The action feels stilted, repetitive, and uninspired, with far less emphasis on the gun-fu that made Wick such a standout.

Our Grade: D, A hollow shell of the franchise it springs from. If you’re a big fan of over-the-top action that doesn’t require much thought, this might work for you. Otherwise, it’s hard to recommend. Ana de Armas continues to be one of the most inconsistent actresses working today—her performances live and die by the strength of the script and the director, and here, both fall short. The result? A film that simply doesn’t measure up.

I do have a digital copy of the film available thanks to Lionsgate so if you’re interested in that let me know.