Review: ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ | 2 out of 4 Stars | Rated PG-13
By Kyle Osborne
For about a solid 90 minutes into the two hour and seventeen minute Fast & Furious spin-off, the abundant goodwill generated by Dwayne Johnson (Hobbs) and Jason Statham (Shaw) is enough to keep this ridiculously over-the-top mug-fest airborne. We really do like these guys, even if their whole sitcom-y bickering isn’t quite as charming as the filmmakers surely hoped.
Ironically, it’s the stunts–the actual action– that gets exhausting long before the credits roll. Director David Leitch has the perfect resume for this gig: he’s a veteran stunt coordinator who helmed Atomic Blonde and Deadpool 2. Perfect on paper, right?
In Hobbs & Shaw, however, Leitch seems determined to go for sheer numbers over content quality—scenes that go on too long, stunts that generate more laughs than oohs and aahs, and a final act that jumps so many sharks until there’s no going back to the movie you’ve been watching all along.
In addition to our likable co-stars, Idris Elba, always great, makes for fun villain. “Who are you?” he’s asked upon his first appearance. “I’m the bad guy,” he answers with a perfect wink and a nod. Vanessa Kirby who made last year’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout much more than just a Tom Cruise stunt seminar, works similar magic with this testosterone-heavy cast.
Honestly, the plot is so not the point in this film-it’s too long a road with too many curves (here’s Wikipedia’s synopsis, if you must know). For me, the plots of the Fast & Furious franchise were more interesting- Hobbs & Shaw is less than the others, but with just enough sheen and star power to keep you munching on popcorn, and surely enough interest to keep this mismatched pair in business.
Hardcore action fans won’t hate it, but others will find that their engagement wanes before that last third or so.
Kyle Osborne