It takes a while for "Ballerina" to find its footing, but once it does, this explosive action romp proves to be a worthy extension of the "John Wick" universe.

Ana de Armas is Eve Macarro, the "Ballerina" of the title, an elite assassin who is on a mission to avenge the murder of her father. We follow her from her early years, where she's seemingly always clutching her ballerina figurine (we get it already!), through her dance and assassin training (Anjelica Huston is her merciless teacher) and eventually into a showdown with the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), the man responsible for turning her into a blunt instrument of death.

The early goings are stiff, as the script by Shay Hatten ("John Wicks" 3 and 4) struggles to find solid ground. Eve's training, her mission of revenge — we've seen it all before, and there's nothing that makes this time around particularly special.

But then things start clicking. "Ballerina" starts playing with and upending familiar clichés in inventive ways: A boom shot that looks like it's closing out a scene turns into the beginning of an exhilarating action sequence, and a scene we've seen in a thousand previous action movies — where a weapons dealer is inside a vault explaining all the specifications on different models of artillery — is interrupted by a sudden, unexpected rain of gunfire. Later, a key escape happens off-screen in a way that says, "trust us, we've seen the same movies you have, just go with us on this one."

The filmmakers earn that trust back, and that's around the time Eve shows off what she's able to do with a grenade.

That leads to a climactic showdown in what is best described as Assassin Town, a remote European mountain village where it turns out everyone is a trained killer. And among those hunting down our fair Eve is Wick himself, played once again with soulful weariness by Keanu Reeves.

"Ballerina" doesn't necessarily need Wick, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have him around. And Reeves' performance — "Ballerina's" timeline places it between the third and fourth "Wick" movies, if you're wondering how he's still breathing — adds to his character's grizzled mystique. He gives "Ballerina" an extra jolt of life.

It's a jolt that de Armas, unfortunately, lacks in the lead role. The Oscar nominee — she was up for her role as Marilyn Monroe in "Blonde" — is game for the physicality the role requires, but she doesn't bring a lot of personality or pizzazz to the part, and the glowering nature of her character doesn't do the actress any favors.

Here's where the behind-the-scenes gets a little messy: Director Len Wiseman (2007's "Live Free or Die Hard" and two "Underworld" movies) was reportedly replaced during production by "Wick" ace Chad Stahelski, who is said to have helmed extensive reshoots on the film. That could explain the herky-jerky nature of "Ballerina's" momentum, which suddenly picks up midway through the film and carries through to the end.

However it had to happen, "Ballerina" features a handful of showstopper action sequences, including an extended set piece with a pair of flamethrowers that sets fire to the screen. And the little touches of the "John Wick" franchise — including a final appearance by the late Lance Reddick, who plays the hotel concierge in the series, and who died in 2023 — help make "Ballerina" a graceful good time. In the end, it lands on its feet.

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'FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA'

Grade: B

MPA rating: R (for strong/bloody violence throughout, and language)

Running time: 2:05

How to watch: In theaters June 6

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