IS ‘HOBBS & SHAW’ FAST & FURIOUS ENOUGH?
“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” is very much exactly what it promises to be: a spinoff from the “F&F” action franchise that’s equally as brainless and bombastic as its predecessors. Why have one explosion when you can have five?
But if the previous “F&F” films were about finding family where you can, with those who may not have your blood but have your back, “H&S” focuses on bonding with those familial blood ties — in between shooting at people from speeding vehicles, of course.
When combined with a more snarky sense of humor — director David Leitch made “Deadpool 2” after all and two surprise guest appearances only serve to underscore the “Deadpool”-like funny business — “Hobbs & Shaw” manages to differentiate itself while still keeping the body count high enough to satisfy the faithful.
Of course, there’s the usual globetrotting plot about someone evil trying to take over the world — and only our frenemies from the “F&F” crew, Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Shaw (Jason Statham), can stop them. This time it’s Brixton (Idris Elba, obviously having a good time being bad), a man who years ago was shot in the head by Shaw but then was saved and retooled by an insidious corporation to be, as Brixton declares, a “black Superman.”
The idea is to wipe out much of the planet’s population and, through technology, elevate the rest to the next stage of evolution. Brixton is meant to be the leading edge of this new-model army.
That first step in taking over the planet is to be accomplished by unleashing a nasty, engineered mega-virus into the world. But it’s gone missing, thanks to a rogue MI6 agent (Vanessa Kirby). Now everybody wants to find her.
But the particulars of the plot don’t matter much. Here’s what matters: how cool are the effects and stunts? (Pretty cool, especially Brixton doing the motorcycle limbo underneath a truck); how funny is the cutting banter between Hobbs and Shaw? (OK, with Hobbs having one epic Shaw
takedown regarding Hobbs’ sex appeal); and should you stay through all of the credits for surprise scenes? (Yes).
The most pleasant surprise of “H&S” though is Johnson’s shoutout to his Samoan heritage and his use of it as a teachable moment for his daughter (Eliana Sua). The entire climax of the film is set in Samoa (though filmed in Hawaii), where Hobbs has gone
“FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW”
Rated PG-13: for prolonged sequences of action and violence, suggestive material and some strong language
Running time: 135 minutes ★★★ (out of 5)
to make up with his estranged brother (Cliff Curtis, “Fear the Walking Dead”). Certainly, any movie that can manage to squeeze in a Samoan haka (war dance) can’t be all bad. Shaw, too, has his family time (Helen Mirren is his jailbird mom). And the goofy, lug-headed, brothersin-muscular-arms chemistry between Johnson and Statham has its charms.
For those who just want things that go zoom and go boom, “H&S” hits that sweet spot by pushing all the standard actionmovie buttons. That won’t be enough to convince the “F&F” haters who will groan and scream “cash grab” through every one of the movie’s sometimes very long 135 minutes (not to mention Yungblud’s grating version of Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle”).
But they can close their eyes, exhale and comfort themselves knowing that the long, hot summer movie season is almost over.