Hey everyone, and welcome back to a brand new review of a 2019 movie! Boy its been a while since we did one of those (I don’t know why but I haven’t been going to see movies as much as I would like to). So what will we be reviewing today? Well if you somehow could not see the title of this review we will be taking a look at the first spin off in the popular blockbuster franchise starring two of its most popular characters, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw! If I’m going to be honest I’ve actually only seen two of these films in their entirety on TV, Furious 7 (which was pretty good), and Fate of the Furious (which was aggressively fine if nothing great). So I could be considered a relative newcomer to the series but I do plan on catching up with the them so I could do a nice little ranking in time for the ninth mainline entry coming out next year in May. But in the meantime fans have this spin-off to tide them over, and on that related note even if I’m not too well versed in the franchise and its surprisingly convoluted timeline, I was still really excited for this movie. That is because it’s an action movie starring Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Staham, two of my favorite action stars, fighting Idris Elba who is another great actor. I mean what more could you want out of life right? But can these two really carry a movie on their own? Oh hell yes they can, in fact I’d go so far as to say they could carry a franchise after the crazy fun time I had with this film!
Things start off with an MI6 team led by Hattie Shaw extracting a deadly virus from some mercenaries only for the mission to be interrupted by one Brixton Lore a (I can’t believe I’m typing this down) genetically enhanced super soldier who is nearly invincible, and can predict his opponent’s every move, and who is also trying to get that virus. With Brixton taking out her entire team Hattie has no choice but to inject herself with the virus so he can’t get it and runs away while Brixton frames her by making it look like she betrayed her own team. Now with Brixton intent on getting that virus back to the secret evil organization he works for known as Etheon led by a mysterious figure known as “the Director”, who can stop him now? Why CIA agent Luke Hobbs, and former MI6 agent gone rogue (who also happens to be Hattie’s sister), Deckard Shaw of course (at least that’s what the CIA hopes). Hobbs is just enjoying spending quality time with his daughter, while Shaw is living it up in the big life while also visiting his mother in prison every once in a while. They do have one thing in common though, and that is they cannot stand each other, and hate each others guts so much. But with the fate of the world (not to mention Shaw’s sister as well), can they learn to get along in order to stop Brixton, and Etheon from carrying out their sinister plan?
Just from reading that plot summary or by watching any of the trailers you probably know what to expect from this movie. This is a big, loud, ridiculous, and over the top action movie that plays a like Saturday morning cartoon on the big screen and if your not into that type of stuff, then this movie may not be for you. But if you absolutely dig these kinds of movies done well (like me) then strap in for a fun ride. I think what makes this movie succeed where others of its ilk have failed (like Vin Diesel’s XXX Return of Xander Cage) is that it knows how absurd it is, and just goes along with it not taking itself too seriously at all while also not insulting the audience as well inviting us to join in on the fun. Like I said before it is essentially a live action Saturday Morning cartoon on the big screen from the big high stakes plot, to the secret evil organization led by a mysterious person, to the broad characterizations, a less than subtle message about family strewn throughout, and the fact that the laws of physics do not apply at all. But for what its trying to be it does it well, and it does work as a fun globe trotting action adventure movie, and as a throwback to those big, dumb action movies from the 80’s, and 90’s (Commando, Con Air, Face/Off, etc.). I will say that there are plenty of plot turns that were pretty ridiculous, and there are times where the script can be very stupid with many a cheesy line of dialogue every once in awhile, needless exposition that makes the plot more complicated than it needs to be that also drags the pacing a little bit (funny how the last two F & F movies were about as long as this yet this one feels a little longer), and a forced message about family thrown into the mix. There are also times where it feels like its trying too hard to create its own franchise separate from the mainline Fast and Furious series by leaving certain plot threads unfinished, setting up future adventures and introducing a whole bunch of new characters that could return in a later installment which is also a little distracting but not too much to the point where the movie turns into a glorified table setter. But even if the script is far from the best there is, it does also contain a lot of awesomely outrageous one liners, and jokes that elicit some good laughs, many of which made me burst into laughing out loud, and yes while the family message can be very corny at times, it does provide some of the more well done emotional moments, and character development in the film that gives the proceedings some substance. Is the story, and writing absurd at times? Yes. Is it a bit too long for its own good? Probably. Did I have a blast watching it? Absolutely!
Probably what makes this film an even bigger deal to many is who’s behind the camera here. I am of course talking about David Leitch which is a name action junkies should be familiar with. The former stunt man turned director has shown just what he is capable of in terms of crafting action sequences as the director of Atomic Blonde, and Deadpool 2, as well as the co director of John Wick, and he continues to show those skills off here. He does a good job directing the proceedings here with some clever filming choices (such as the hilarious introduction to the characters showing their different life styles Hobbs, and Shaw or really anything that shows how different they are from each other), and there are plenty of his common visual signatures here like a grainy, metallic color pallete during the day, and more neon lit lighting in the night. Not to mention he succeeds in making this feature his own while also being able to make it feel like a Fast & Furious film as this film continues the franchise’s knack for having nice, often beautiful shots of the different locales that are visited that help show off the globe trotting elements (the scenes in Samoa in particular are a sight to look at). But what about the action sequences? Well I’m happy to say that they deliver in an exciting, and cartoonishly over the top manner and just like previous movie in the series there is nice variety of what you get from hand to hand brawls, shoot outs, a full on battle scene, and of course fast car chases. I’d say the stand out was the climactic battle on Samoa which had a little bit of everything, but the chase scene in London, the brutal brawl in Hattie’s apartment, and the infiltration on the Etheon base in Russia were a lot of fun as well. Another person who collaborated with Leitch in the past who returns here is composer, Tyler Bates, whose score here was actually really intense, and exhilarating and the soundtrack does contain a number of recognizable tunes such as “Time In a Bottle” performed here by YUNGBLUD, and there’s even an original song sung, and written by Idris Elba himself titled “Even If I Die”.
As I mentioned before the main reason I was excited about this movie was the novelty of seeing in a big action movie with this stacked cast, and they know the kind of movie their in and they just have fun with it. First there’s the title heroes themselves Dwayne Johnson as the muscular, authoritative, and charismatic law man, Luke Hobbs, and Jason Statham as the slick, suave, and equally charismatic criminal, Deckard Shaw. They both have excellent chemistry with one another and play off of each other masterfully often to hilarious effect (seriously I could watch both of them argue in a room for two hours, and I would have been satisfied). We even get some nice character development for the both of them with Hobbs (who has a very sweet relationship with his daughter, Samantha, played by Eliana Su’a who is just adorable) having to face his past concerning his family, and Shaw being presented as more than just an angry revenge seeking murderer, and is revealed to be more of an anti hero figure who did what he did to keep trouble away from his family (though I can still understand hardcore fans’s complaints about Justice4Han). Their both fun characters played by committed action stars, but their not the only ones who get to shine! The Crown, and Mission Impossible Fallout actress, Vanessa Kirby, is appropriately bada** as Hattie Shaw who proves to be more than just some damsel in distress, and serves as a fun straight woman to the duo’s antics, and get some good lines to boot. Idris Elba is a lot of fun as Brixton who is a glorified Saturday Morning cartoon villain (at one point he even laughs like one), and its especially great when he starts hamming it up when monologuing about human evolution, and superior technology is (its funny how this movie claims to champion the benefits of human practicality when most of the action is very CGI heavy). As for some of the other supporting players Eddie Marsan is a delight as the Russian Nobel Peace Prize winning scientist who created the virus, Professor Andreiko, Eiza Gonzalez is underutilized but cool as Mobster Queen, Madame M., and Helen Mirren once again plays a small yet effective role as Shaw’s snarky, elegant, and caring mother. There’s also the members of Hobbs’s family (which includes a lot of familiar faces for wrestling fans) who don’t really get to do much except participate in the big climax with the exception of Cliff Curtis as one of Hobbs’s brothers, Jonah, who is a character I would’t mind seeing more of in a future movie. Oh, and there are some high profile surprise cameos that I will be discussing in a bit so if you haven’t seen the film, and you want to please skip to the last paragraph below. SPOILERS: Yes Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Hart, Rob Delaney all appear in this film, and they all were nice fun surprises. Reynolds is his usual fast talking self and he is the one who plays the biggest role of the three as Agent Locke, an old associate of Hobbs who is basically Ryan Reynolds as a CIA agent which I had no problems with. Meanwhile Delaney has a funny conversation with Shaw as Agent Loeb, while Hart gets an amusing confrontation with the two as an air Marshall who eavesdrops on their situation. All in all its a game cast who help carry one hell of a ride.
Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is exactly what you’d think it is just by looking at the title. Its a big, dumb, loud, well crafted action movie that is the biggest Saturday Morning Cartoon on the big screen since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Out of the Shadows (or even Justice League, and Aquaman), and I loved watching every minute of it thanks to some great action, an awesome cast, good production value, and the fact that it knows what it is and just goes with it. While it may be a bit too long for its own good, and there are certain storytelling, and script aspects that weren’t perfect, I just had such a blast with the film that I can be able to somewhat forgive those flaws. This is probably going to end up being a huge guilty pleasure for me, and it is absolutely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but if your a fan of the franchise, these actors, action movies, or are just looking for a fun time at the movies you will most likely be satisfied with the final product. While it may not be the best movie of the year it is probably the funnest time I’ve had at the theater and I can definitely see myself re watching it in the future. Now bring on Hobbs & Shaw 2 because I could really use another one of these!
Rating: B+
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