Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.
Cast
Dwayne Johnson – Luke Hobbs
Vanessa Kirby – Hattie Shaw
Jason Statham – Deckard Shaw
Helen Mirren – Magdalene “Queenie” Shaw
Idris Elba – Brixton Lore
Eliza González – Margarita
Cliff Curtis – Jonah Hobbs
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw wasn’t as ineffective as I thought it would be. On the contrary, it’s a slick and sharp piece of entertainment that doesn’t string out the scenes and leave characters hanging around. One moment you’re in a skyscraper office and the next – leaping from that same building and plummeting towards the ground. The adrenaline surges through this movie towards its cliffhanger finale (not even a pun, there literally is a cliff) involving a vehicle chase during a storm. My first observation is how brilliantly this ending scene was constructed; some fabulous CGI whips up an electrical storm which roars against the picture of doomed vehicles. What happens after they skid towards the edge of a cliff is a brilliantly gripping watch; it’s like a nightmare involving a seaside amusement park ride or something. How the vehicles connect and get moved around is nothing short of spectacular and will leave thrill-seekers highly satisfied. In fact, this scene is so insanely tense it will probably have most viewers in a state of disbelief. Not Gone Girl (2014) disbelief, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.
The banter between Shaw and Hobbs becomes a bit tedious when, during certain scenes, they both reel off a list of insults. Back and forth like a game of tennis Statham calls Johnson something, and back it goes. The juvenile feel of it is cringeworthy but fortunately the adrenaline quickly kicks in again and sends them into the next dangerous situation.
Honestly, I assumed I would detest this movie. I only went along as it was another one to tick off the Unlimited Card list. But I enjoyed it and was left fully entertained by its often comic plot, engaging flow, bold visuals and slightly sexy undercurrent. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is one every action fan should give a look. The fact its focus veers away from fast cars for once and explores more personal avenues means a different kind of buzz is created. One in which our two leading meatheads deliver the laughs as well as the adrenaline.
