Sandy Kenyon reviews 'John Wick,' 'St. Vincent'

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Two very different movies are hitting theaters this weekend, with two comedy superstars teaming up in a story about troubled neighbors and one of the action world's heroes returning to the big screen with a vengeance.

The new film "John Wick" has been getting good reviews, but for the life of me, I can't understand why. Fans of murder and mayhem will like it, but for the rest of us, the best thing I can say about the film starring Keanu Reeves is that it's mercifully short.

Wick is that rare hit man who was able to retire, but events beyond his control cause him to resume his former profession.

There's plenty of action here in the city, which is to be expected given the movie was directed by Reeves' former stunt double -- the same guy who for years stepped in whenever a stunt proved too dangerous for the star to risk it.

So they've got that part covered.

But if you're looking for anything more than violence and action, well that's where "John Wick" falls down.

The picture reminds me all over again that among the major stars, Reeves just might be the worst actor. His emotions run the gamut all the way from A to B, as a famous critic once said about somebody else.

And at the age of 50, Reeves is also getting a bit old for this sort of thing.

In this weekend's other new movie, Bill Murray ages none too gracefully in a new movie "st. Vincent," about a cranky veteran. His new neighbors are a single mom, played by Melissa Mccarthy, and her son. They rock his world, while he rocks theirs.

One of the funniest women in America is almost entirely wasted in a humorless part that is way too small for her big talent, but newcomer Jaeden Lieberher more than holds his own opposite Murray.

The relationship between the boy and the old man is kind of sweet. The movie was filmed in and around Sheepshead Bay, but really it could've been made just about anywhere.

Movies like "St. Vincent" are called Oscar bait because they're made with an eye to winning the little gold guy. Bill Murray might deserve an Academy Award, but not for this film.