I found my way into the theater this weekend for a chance to release some frustration in a film that promises an endless string of violence. John Wick: Chapter 2 delivered on this promise with more than appropriate accuracy. This film was a well balanced, raw walk through martial arts and gunplay with a plot that really kept you engaged. But, try and follow me here, the story is still not working for me.

I know, I just praised its plot. And within the context of the story the film puts forth, the plot is logical and fun. The problem I have with story of John Wick stems from its initial entry. The viewers are dropped into a universe with a defined set of rules that establish how the characters are going to act. There are mafias, secret societies, middle men, gold coins, and a group of assassins that interact within these confines where they develop a sense of professional courtesies. In the first film, the foundations of this society seem old, strong, and impenetrable, which is reinforced in the second. But I can’t help feeling that all this relies on power hungry murders being sane, which often, they are not. So in essence, the system is only as strong as its most sane murder. The plot flows logically as long as all of this remains constant, making for a solid action film.

Chad Stahelski has mastered the distance between story development and action. There is a palpable feeling in the air as the characters take break between fights to have a drink or prepare for their next kill. Almost a Wes Anderson delicateness to the way characters interact with their surroundings in their downtime. Everything is polished, pristine, and placed with care. Which creates a powerful impact when John and Co. finally break loose and destroy anything in their sight.

The most interesting aspect of the Wick-ian universe is Keanu Reeves performance as John the person and John the assassin. There is a stark difference, which became even more apparent this time around. John the person is short on words, not because he is a quiet person, but because it looks like he is suffering to find the right words for any situation. He may speak six languages, but he struggles to figure out what to say. And I love it. John the assassin is the polar opposite of action heroes like James Bond or Jackie Chan. On a chart of efficiency versus productivity, John is at the apex. He deftly removes adversaries from his line of sight using a chunky, real to life(-ish) fight and gun choreography; truly a vicious, visual treat. Instead of relying on heavy editing to help give the feel of fluidity, or adding a ton of shaky-cam to add increased intensity, they use long, wide steady shots to provide room for John to kill with clarity. And when he does, it’s harsh, painful, and direct.

While I am still not a fan of the world in which John Wick lives, I am a huge fan of the action it serves up. The coherent fight scenes and eccentric characters create an engaging plot where you can’t wait to see how many more bodies he’s going to drop. Break out your wallet, plop down admission, and imagine how much undertakers are making because of John Wick.