DEREK Kolstad’s John Wick franchise continues on fine form this week, with reviews as consistently rave as they ever have been. Now three-film’s in, the series has morphed from American revenge thriller to international survival epic. Keanu Reeves - as, briefly retired, hitman John Wick - remains a rare constant, with Ian McShane the only co-star to have joined him all the way.

Grandiosely titled Parabellum - after the Latin adage ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’ - John Wick 3 follows its predecessor directly, with Wick weighed down by the $14m price tag placed on his head. As the world’s most deadly assassins close in, Wick must fight tooth and nail if he has any chance of survival.

Joining Reeves in Parabellum, Halle Berry plays Sofia, an assassin and a close friend of Wick, while Anjelica Huston co-stars as the Director, his protector. But can anyone be trusted in this neo-noir world be relied upon? Perhaps not. Laurence Fishburne returns also.

As before, rollicking action set pieces is the film’s great asset. Director Chad Stahelski doubles as Reeve in many of the most brutal combats, bringing with him a background in stunt coordination. It all makes for a thrillingly hard-knuckled watch, played exquisitely on the line between meaningless violence and action with consequence. A fourth outing is already on the way.

Also out this week, Paw Patrol is just the latest small screen toddler toon hit to transcend to cinemas.

A niche Canadian property until its global explosion two years ago, Paw Patrol tells the story of a boy named Ryder who leads a pack of search and rescue dogs, each of whom have their own special skills. In Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups, these skills are set for a very contemporary upgrade.

When Harold, Mayor Humdinger’s nephew, accidentally diverts a meteor and changes its path to hit Adventure Bay, Ryder and the pups jump into action. But when the meteor showers the pups and Harold with a mysterious green energy, they all get superpowers and become Mighty Pups!

With his new powers Harold schemes to become the Super Mayor of Adventure Bay and captures Ryder. Will the pups manage to work together to defeat Harold, his mega robot and save Ryder?

The whiff of commercial cash-in is strong with this one but fans will lap it up. Parents would be barking mad to miss it.