The new trailer for John Wick has been released, revealing the plot of the action/adventure revenge movie. Keanu Reeves goes gunning for the bad guys because they killed his dog. They also stole his Mustang, but really it’s all about avenging the death of his cute beagle puppy.
“That dog was a final gift from my dying wife,” Reeves says in the trailer, which IGN debuted on Friday.
Keanu’s turn as a puppy avenger has not gone unnoticed on Twitter. Reactions are running the gamut from delight to confusion to mild disgust.
Some were completely confounded by the premise of Keanu Reeves playing a hitman out for revenge for his murdered dog, and found the whole thing ridiculous.
@JohnWickMovie wait, this is a puppy revenge movie?!
— Jason Francisco (@SlylockFox) September 13, 2014
@JohnWickMovie all for a dog, wtf hollywood
— J.Martinez (@J_Martinez2012) September 14, 2014
. @ShaneJWillis I’d watch that! In fact, #JohnWick would be better if they flipped the premise – the puppy takes revenge for Keanu’s death. — Gabe Dowrick (@GabeDowrick) September 13, 2014
Some lost all interest in the movie, not buying that someone, even Keanu Reeves, would flip out that much over their dog getting murdered.
Sorry @JohnWickMovie but I can’t buy a guy going this apeshit over a dog. Even if his dead wife gave it to him. #BillAndTed — AmericanZero Podcast (@americanzeropod) September 14, 2014
#KeanuReeves a former hitman, unleashing hell in #JohnWick , because they killed his puppy. Seems reasonable. :/ #FirstWorldProblems
— Bilal Afridi (@BHAfridi) September 13, 2014
Others were turned off by Keanu’s dog getting killed.
im not even going to watch john wick now that i know the dog dies
— Pepperoni Playboy (@RonMexxxico1) September 13, 2014
@JohnWickMovie No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, you killed the dog. Nope, I’m out — YeahThisIsHess (@YeahThisIsHess) September 14, 2014
But the majority of responses were completely (if not ironically) excited to see Keanu Reeves back in another action movie. Not only were they on-board with the idea of murderous revenge being inspired by the death of a dog, some completely related to the idea.
I’m officially on board for John Wick. Ridiculous action movie about a guy who goes on a revenge kick because Alfie Allen killed his puppy.
— Marc Therrien (@mrtherrien) September 13, 2014
Re: “John Wick” It’s relatable in one way, I’d probably go full ballistic on thugs who’d intentionally kill my dog. — Fluffy Man (@fluffyman85) September 14, 2014
Yep. I’m all for movies about gratuitous violence in retaliation for the death of a cute puppy. #JohnWick
— Bryan Dunlap (@dunlapbryan) September 14, 2014
John Wick is the first movie by directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, who both worked with Reeves as stunt coordinators on The Matrix trilogy. The movie, which also stars Adrianne Palicki and Michael Nyqvist, opens October 24. Keanu Reeves has also been turning his sites to television, where he will star and executive produce Rain . No word yet on whether that show will feature more dog revenge.