Today’s quick review: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) are reunited for another mission when Hattie (Vanessa Kirby), a talented MI-6 agent, injects herself with a deadly virus to keep it out of the hands of Brixton (Idris Elba), an unstoppable cyborg. The two men must learn to work together to track down Hattie, help her extract the virus, and put a stop to Brixton’s plan.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is an action comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Taking place in its own corner of the Fast & Furious universe, Hobbs & Shaw steps away from Dominic Toretto and his extended family to focus on the titular duo, a pair of law enforcement officers with a tangled history. The movie features big-budget action, a great cast, and energetic comedy, making it a thoroughly enjoyable popcorn watch.
The showpiece of Hobbs & Shaw is its action. The film never passes up an opportunity for a fight or a chase, with creative stunts that make full use of Hobbs’ size, Shaw’s skill, and Hattie’s agility, not to mention an array of guns, gadgets, and vehicles. Hobbs & Shaw also goes a step further than previous entries in the franchise with the inclusion of Brixton, a killer whose cybernetic enhancements fuel some of the film’s more extreme stunts.
Hobbs & Shaw backs its action with some of the best comedy from Fast & Furious to date. Unencumbered by the weightier side of the franchise, Hobbs & Shaw is free to cut loose with as many jokes as it can squeeze in. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham continue to have excellent chemistry, and their rivalry forms the bedrock of the film’s humor. Fast-paced banter, good-natured humor, and a surprisingly talented supporting cast make the film sparkle.
The one major drawback of all this is that the film stretches its suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. The logic of the plot barely hangs together, the action scenes are exaggerated even by the standards of the genre, and the movie is missing the sense of heart of previous Fast & Furious films. Still, Hobbs & Shaw does a great job of catering to its strengths, making it easy to enjoy the ride without getting tangled in the details.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is an excellent pick if you’re a fan of the unabashedly fun side of the action genre. Between its all-star cast, its large-scale action, and its deft comedy, the movie is the quintessential popcorn watch. Those looking for earnest, over-the-top action with plenty of comedy will find that Hobbs & Shaw is right up their alley. More critical viewers who are hoping for plot, character, or realism should steer clear.
For more action comedy in the same vein, try the other entries in the Fast & Furious series, in particular Fast & Furious 6, Furious 7, and The Fate of the Furious. For a more dramatic action thriller with some of the same appeal, try Mission: Impossible – Fallout. For a smaller-scale action comedy with a similar sense of humor, try The Hitman’s Bodyguard.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for raw, big-budget entertainment.