New Delhi, June 13 -- There are times we look for complexity and depth in cinema, and times when a few simple pleasures will do. Small joys, like arcane assassin guild rituals. Or Keanu Reeves hitting every syllable in "consequences." Or Ana de Armas with a flamethrower.

After four films that remapped Hollywood action, the John Wick franchise has its first feature spinoff. Ballerina is the first film in this universe not directed by Chad Stahelski, with Len Wiseman of the Underworld films in charge. This is usually the point at which franchises thin out and make peace with the idea that they'll be churning out variations until the public no longer cares. Sequels say you're a franchise, spinoffs say you're a business.

It would be difficu...