Review of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) by Markhreviews — 05 Sep 2019

“Hobbs and Shaw” is a searing, soul-crushing examination of the existential angst and inner conflict that all humans face when confronting the nothingness of their very brief existence. Okay, maybe not. But if you’re looking for an action-infused, light-hearted, self-deprecating piece of summer fluff, you probably will leave with a smile on your face. In the storyline for “Hobbs and Shaw,” all that hangs in the balance is the future of human existence. When an MI6 agent who turns out to be Jason Statham’s sister steals a toxin that could liquefy the internal organs of everyone on the planet, the stakes could not be higher. Fortunately, Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Shaw (Jason Statham) are willing to team up long enough to take on the evil Eteon (Enron, Exxon?) and its half-human/half-machine henchman Brixton (Idris Elba). How could it all possibly end?

In this case, it’s fun just to go along for the ride. Statham, particularly, seems totally willing to parody the brooding macho man of his earlier roles (“The Transporter,” “Crank,” “The Mechanic”) with the rest of us in on the joke. While some of the banter between Statham and Johnson is horribly clichéd and it’s unclear whether the few “serious” moments are meant to be taken seriously, the action – fight scenes, car chases, truck chases, helicopter chases, motorcycle chases, you get the idea – is well worth the price of admission.

The cast is consistently excellent. Vanessa Kirby (Princess Margaret in “The Crown”), clearly thrilled to become an action heroine, brings to her role a sly, measured delivery the keeps the stilted script from imploding under its own weight (or lack thereof). Brief cameos by Helen Mirren (as Statham’s mother), Kevin Hart (as an emotionally needy air marshal), Eddie Marsan (“Ray Donovan”), Ryan Reynolds (“Deadpool”) and even Rob Delaney (“Catastrophe”) just add to the fun. In the steady hand of Director David Leitch (“John Wick,” “Atomic Blonde,” “Deadpool 2”), these components are mixed into a combustible brew of congenial chaos.

The action is continuous and well-orchestrated, supported by a pounding soundtrack that includes a closing track by DJ Idris Elba.

If you decide to see this movie, don’t bring a thesaurus or plan to spend a lot of time discussing the symbolism embedded in a multi-layered plot. Come for the explosions, not the exposition.