Ideally, Ballerina would vibrate with a sense of urgency, but the prevailing vibe is closer to obligation.

The top-drawer Wick films work because they fully acknowledge their own absurdity and lean into the cartoonish qualities of the characters. Ballerina, however, takes itself dispiritingly seriously.

Ballerina is a mixed bag, one that takes far too much time to get going. But when it does, this latest foray into the insane world of the High Table has plenty to offer.

Here’s the thing… if you can sit through the gosh-awful opening scenes, director Len Wiseman and his crew unleash a slew of spectacularly choreographed fight sequences.