John Wick director Chad Stahelski came into his franchise’s defense against fans complaining of its unrealistic action sequences. The film series, which started in 2014, turned into a global success that spanned four installments and currently two major spin-offs.
In the world of John Wick, action is brutal, and as the heart and soul of the franchise, there will be times when sequences are exaggerated. This is where the lighthearted scenes come in – to take off the heavy load and bring in the fun. In fact, John Wick being unrealistic is on purpose.
Chad Stahelski Explains How Comedy Is Integrated In John Wick Movies
In his interview with Inverse, former stuntman turned director Chad Stahelski discussed the lighter side of the John Wick franchise and claimed that he and Keanu Reeves are “in on the joke.” The ridiculousness of the plot is where the game’s at, and it is done on purpose for the sake of comedy.
The filmmaker even compared John Wick to Bugs Bunny, who would not even survive, so they are killing 300 men, not three. Stahelski explained:
“The subtext of all the John Wicks is supposed to be that ’70s brutal, hardboiled kind of stuff. But I want you to laugh because I want you to know: Keanu and I are in on the joke. We know how ridiculous killing 80 guys over a puppy is. Believe me, we know.”
When watching a John Wick film, he wanted the audience to feel that they were watching with them. He wanted the viewers to laugh, but because of a clever plot device that they have used in the movie. The director further expounded how “situational brutality” can make people giggle, for example:
“If you fall down 10 stairs, it’s brutal. If you fall down 200 stairs, it’s funny. You beat a guy up with a knife, it’s one thing, but then you throw a tomahawk from 50 feet away. It’s the accent. Having a dog attack somebody can be brutal. Having a dog attack his groin is way more brutal, but it’s way more funny, and we don’t know why.”
Chad Stahelski noted that viewers need the “psychosomatic response” to make violence look funny. Indeed, the exaggeration of action sequences makes a scene more interesting and enjoyable to watch.
John Wick Movies Have Never Been Realistic
As John Wick grew into a successful title in the action genre, the pressure to surpass its previous accomplishments got more serious. While the story is deeply rooted in its lore, the introduction of the Continental Hotel and other menacing figures that orbit Keanu Reeves’ character, suggests an approach that is far from reality.
Like all kinds of aesthetics, John Wick’s distinct style always hints to fans that it is very far from the real world. Besides, Chad Stahelski never claimed that it means to portray a true-to-life type of action.
In the end, the film aims to entertain its viewers in the most immersive way possible, and just experiencing it without being too critical is definitely the best way to enjoy an action movie.
Source: Inverse
