Film Review: Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw (2019)

The Fast and Furious series began back in 2001 with The Fast and The Furious, starring Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, and has been churning out movie after movie, packed with action, car chases, and testosterone. And to be honest, it’s fun. The eight-piece franchise has released their first spin-off Hobbs and Shaw, starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. The promotional material did not lie. This was a joy to watch.

Thoughts on the story.

I hadn’t watched a Fast and Furious film since the original was released, so going into this I had no idea what to expect. I’m glad to say they handled the introductions well. Johnson’s Luke Hobbs was the muscle, while Statham’s Deckard Shaw was the suave. They’re two very different personalities but go about things the exact same way. It was well delivered, didn’t spend too long in getting to know who they were, we just knew.

The plot being that Shaw’s sister Hattie (Vanessa Kirby) was injected with the Snowflake virus and being hunted by the Black Superman Brixton (Idris Elba), and somehow the only two who could save the world were long time enemies Hobbs and Shaw, was absolutely ridiculous. I was in. The story was a little pointless however. After the first few fights and action sequences before the final act, it was just a mindless smash fest, with guns, cars, and a couple of cool tricks.

A regular theme across the Fast and Furious franchise, so I hear, is the inclusion of family. So for the most part I could see how they were leaning into it with Hobbs’ daughter and Shaw’s mum and sister all being introduced in early scenes. But since the majority of the film took place in the UK and around Shaw’s life, it felt more like Hobbs was along for the ride in Shaw’s story. Even when they did begin hinting towards a sexually hungry connection between Hobbs and Hattie, it didn’t feel like the two sides of the story were meshing.

By the final act, we are taken to see Hobbs’ family in Samoa in an attempt to drive Brixton away from his high tech life, and beat him the old fashion way. Not to mention that Hobbs’ brother is the only guy in the world who could help remove the virus from Hattie. It all sounds too ridiculous to be feel natural, but because the film doesn’t try to take itself too seriously, it’s just fun. The most natural part of the entire film was while on a flight, Johnson and Statham resort to acting like a pair of adolescents trying to throw an insult at each other shy of a ‘yo mamma’ joke. Childish and immature, yes, but was it bad? Kind of. But it still made me laugh.

Unfortunately, the ending of the film did then try to preach some level of serious tone. Hobbs gives Brixton a heartfelt speech, claiming while the villain is so obsessed with machines and technology, he forgot about the strength in heart and people.

What did you like about it?

It’s high energy and testosterone fueled. The motorized wet dream of most masculine people. The bickering between Johnson and Statham was excellent, even if juvenile, and the chase scenes were exciting from start to finish. In regards to the world of the Fast and Furious lore, it was interesting to learn how there are other characters popping up everywhere. It really helped create a possible web of interconnected backstories that we don’t necessarily need to see, but instead we just feel it.

A couple of actors get some golden moments in their respective cameo appearances, Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart, both bringing in their own fashion of comedy to the franchise. Idris Elba was excellently placed as the villain. Tortured and rebuilt, he came across as someone you’d want to side with, certainly more than with the leading duo, for fear of being squashed between their egos. Whether used in the other entries to the series, I’m unsure, but it was a fun callback to see the nitrous getting its screen time during the final action sequence. As was the iconic maneuvre of a car speeding between the wheels of a lorry.

What didn’t you like?

All jokes aside, literally, there isn’t much left to the film other than the overly destructive action sequences and fast cars. The acting by Johnson was fairly substandard and not outside his wheelhouse. It would be nice to see him try something a little less The Rock. Statham also plays the same style of character from his previous roles, and it does start to get stale.

Vanessa Kirby started strong, and had plenty of decent moments to shine, however she often came across as bland and disinterested. My biggest gripe regarding her was how she became a walking plot point and not a character able to carry herself. In the final action sequence, instead of letting her kick ass along side the Samoans, she was strapped to a machine to remove the virus, rendering her useless in a fight. Can’t let the leading men be upstaged, I suppose.

Conclusion

Hobbs and Shaw is not a masterpiece of intellectual film making, nor is it a thought provoking commentary on society at large. But not every film has to be, and this film knows it. It’s childishly funny, crammed with action, and has enough car chases to make you want to go out and piss off a few police officers. Even without knowing the franchise as intimately as others, I’d recommend this film: 6/10.