John Wick 4's Unexpectedly Hilarious Action Scene Gives Fans Hot Rod Flashbacks
The following article contains spoilers for "John Wick: Chapter 4."
"John Wick: Chapter 4" is here, and based on reviews from audiences and critics, it's an action-packed ride. As one would expect, there are ample fight scenes featuring everything from guns to nunchucks to get viewers out of their seats cheering. However, it can also be a hilarious movie if you happen to find humor in watching a man roll repeatedly down a very long flight of stairs.
It sounds like something out of a "Three Stooges" bit, but there's just something about watching a badass hitman roll down one stair after the next, and just when you think it's over, it starts back up again. Fans seem to have loved the moment, too, seeing how it's earned a lot of chatter on Reddit forums. Some have even drawn a unique comparison to just about the last film you would expect to be affiliated with the "John Wick" franchise — 2007's "Hot Rod," starring Andy Samberg and the rest of The Lonely Island crew. And the two movies have more in common than you may think.
It's always a good time to rewatch Hot Rod
"Hot Rod" didn't exactly light up the box office when it first came out in theaters, grossing only $14 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Sadly, this would prove to be a trend with Lonely Island movies, as "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" is also highly underrated despite its litany of cameos and nonstop jokes. But "Hot Rod" certainly deserves more attention, and if you need a palate cleanser after watching "John Wick: Chapter 4," "Hot Rod" is perfect if you need something with fewer headshots.
In a "John Wick: Chapter 4" Reddit discussion, plenty of users drew parallels, like u/FireFerret44 writing, "Is it bad I laughed hysterically? Reminded me of that scene in Hot Rod." Redditor u/thewulfmann also shared an amusing anecdote of watching the scene in a crowded theater: "My theater was roaring when he fell down the stairs. Shout out hot rod."
In addition to similar "falling down the stairs" scenes, the two movies are also connected with the inclusion of Ian McShane. He's played Winston Scott in all four "John Wick" movies, but he also plays Frank Powell in "Hot Rod." Frank is Rod Kimble's (Samberg) stepfather who gets sick, forcing wannabe stuntman Rod to perform a dangerous stunt to raise enough money to help him. This proves that if you want a movie that stands the test of time, you need two things — Ian McShane and a funny stair sequence.