Hobbs and Shaw is a long-awaited spin-off of the Fast and Furious franchise that collected over $1.2 billion in the worlwide boxoffice.
By the time I’m writing this review Hobbs and Shaw already grossed $180,800,000 worldwide and took the top spot at this weekend’s box office. The $200 million action flick also received an “A-” CinemaScore from opening day audiences and currently holds a strong, 90% audience score on RottenTomatoes.
When we finished with the statistics let’s get to the movie itself as it holds very interesting twists and fails to talk about.
As a summary to what you will read below, I can say that in my opinion, the movie delivered the action bonanza it has promised but failed with the entertainment and script, especially in the middle.
If Hobbs and Shaw were on different sides in the Fast and Furious movies this time they should keep their differences aside, and join forces with Deckard’s sister
That’s funny to hear like the main bad guys Brixton played by Idris Elba self-proclaims himself ‘Black Superman’. He is the third alpha in the alpha vs alpha battle of Hobbs and Shaw.
The vibe of this movie is totally different and no wonder when you have David Leitch as a director on board, who brought us John Wick, Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde. This time Mr. Leitch gifted us the absolutely outrageous action in the best way possible.
Cast.
Dwayne Johnson plays a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service when lawless outcast Jason Statham plays a former British military elite operative. Even diplomatic and military words don’t fit together and no wonder that Rock and Statham can’t work together and absolutely don’t fit each other on the screen.
In my opinion, this is the major fail of the movie, you just don’t know who to look at and different acting styles of actors just tear the movie into pieces. You can see how Statham and Kirby perfectly fit each other on the screen when Rock and Elba just don’t fit the picture, they are like from another world.
No wonder, you just can’t marry posh and artsy British actors with laid-back Hollywood celebrities. Especially, you can’t do it in the action flick.
Vanessa Kirby brings an unnecessary romantic angle to the movie and when everyone is barely waiting for will Rock make a move it all gets back to the action. So if you are hoping to cry a little or see Hobbs on a romantic evening it’s better to go and watch The Lion King.
But at the same time, Vanessa is very good as an MI-6 agent who went rogue and forced to clear her name after the failed operations. She can throw a punch as well and looks on the same level when it comes to action. Kirby outshines her co-stars not only with beautiful eyes but by giving her character real depth.
Edris Elba is too charismatic for the role of a bad guy and you just can’t believe that he can make a worthy adversary against Rock and Statham even as a bio-hacked black superman.
It was really fun to see Cliff Curtis as Hobbs’ brother Jonas with dreads. Cliff is a kiwi from Maori descent but he looks ridiculous as brother of a big Samoa house.
Cameos.
In between all of the action in Hobbs & Shaw, there are some surprising cameos to help liven things up even more.
The most interesting one is Rock’s French bulldog named Hobbs who appeared
Ryan Reynolds appears as C.I.A. Agent Locke, a former colleague of Hobbs’. He gives Hobbs this assignment and makes it clear they both have some history, he even reveals his tattoo similar to the one Hobbs has.
Kevin Hart has a cameo as a Federal Air Marshal named Dinkley on a flight to Moscow. Later he helps to get a plane for Hobbs, Shaw, and Hattie so they can get out of Russia. He looks like Leo Getz, from Lethal Weapon, and we can expect much more in upcoming sequel.
Helen Mirren appeared as a Queenie character serving her time in a prison and trying to bring the Deckard’s family together.
Hobbs and Shaw get a call from a mysterious, threatening voice from Hobbs’ past who vows to make his malevolent presence known. Whomever this future villain is, expect a major name.
“This movie has some great surprises,” says Johnson. “And with the next one, you’re already looking at the team.”
Soundtrack.
This movie has an outstanding soundtrack and you just hold yourself from dancing in the seat.
Featuring adrenaline-heavy tracks from YUNGBLUD, Aloe Blacc, and Tha Movement, the music running through Hobbs & Shaw guaranteed to get you pumped up and ready for some serious action.
Stunts and fight.
Most fights are clear and kinetic with recognizable visual signatures of David Leitch and 87eleven team. All combat scenes are perfectly edited, cut at the compressed speed of a brainless action. But I’m very disappointed in Samoa’s brawl which is choppy and relies on blurry shaky camerawork.
The action sequences in London with stylish fights and car chases are the most smooth and intense ones. No surprise this is the movie’s best moment and even Samoa tribal charisma and emotional bonds can’t help the movie to get to this level.
The final action sequences are particularly jaw-dropping especially when custom cars chained together trying to hold a helicopter from flying away with a Decker’s sister.
The avid action fans will see everything from motorcycles that transform and cars that twist in the air, to jumping off buildings and slow-motion fistfights.
Overall, action scenes remind modern superhero movies or video games and this is probably what market wants today and Hobbs and Show does nothing to reverse this trend in action movies.
Conclusion.
The moves split into 3 parts: London, Russia, and Hawaii. The London part is the most engaging and interesting one, the Russian part is all about action on the secret base in Chernobyl. The Hawaiian part is about family bonds that just escalate into a massive final action set-piece.
Nearly two-and-a-half hours of action keep everyone happy but unfortunately, the Russia part of the movie fails to deliver and you feel a little bit tired of boring jokes and some messed-up action scenes.
Hobbs & Shaw are not interested in expanding the Fast & Furious universe in any way, they here to create their own standalone franchise. Things like pumped cars, fast robberies, and family values stay very much on the outside in favor of non-stop bulky action in veins of Schwarzenegger and Stallone.
The whole show is made to impress people instead of engaging them so if you are looking to have fun while watching a good action film, this is a nice choice.