What Are Hobbs and Shaw Up To?
What happens when two polar opposites team up to stop a genetically enhanced super man from causing the destruction of every life form on the planet? Well, we get a serviceable summer blockbuster with intense action sequences and hilarious dialogue. There is a virus referred to as “snowflake” that has the potential to wipe out every body on the planet and it is up to Hobbs and Shaw to kick the supposed “black superman’s” ass or risk the people being melted from the inside out. I watched the trailer for this film about a month ago and I didn’t really think much of it other than it would probably make for a decent dumb action flick with some wicked cool special effects. I went into the film with low expectations and I walked out with mixed feelings since I did enjoy the film for what it was, but there were some moments in the film I couldn’t care less about. The evil organization was pretty generic and didn’t leave too much impact on the overall film and the final act felt rushed with a not so clever confrontation. Hobbs (played by Dwayne Johnson) and Shaw (played by Jason Statham) had excellent chemistry with each other! I will have to say that the best parts in the movie involve them roasting each other back and forth. The audience around me laughed continuously throughout the film and I occasionally joined them in a laugh or two. I wouldn’t say that the movie is drop dead funny the whole way through, but I will admit that the film can be humorous at times. The action scenes were a great spectacle, especially the hand to hand combat! Jason Statham had some sweet moves that contrasted from Dwayne Johnson’s hulking fighting style. In a way they make the perfect squad even though they would rather tear each others throats out than work together. There is also the inclusion of Shaw’s sister (played by Vanessa Kirby) which was a pretty good character in my opinion. In order to keep the virus out of the wrong hands, she administers the virus into her bloodstream and that is when she is intercepted by Hobbs in a very entertaining fight scene. I think Vanessa Kirby played her role well and I would be happy to see her in a future film.
The Action
What can I say about the action sequences in this film? I went in knowing I would get some half way decent set pieces but I walked out with a whole lot more than what I bargained for. The camera work was fantastic; always following the actors in creative ways while they were being hunted down by Brixton (played by Idris Elba). Many of the action sequences felt so real, like these actors were really being chased down by an unstoppable force on a motor bike who can kick both their asses like no tomorrow. The visual effects were great and the slow motion was used sparingly but effectively (Unlike the Matrix sequels). Jason Statham was incredible since he fought like a ninja and there was one scene in particular where he reminded me of Jackie Chan (tying henchmen together so they can’t attack anymore). I really felt every blow in this movie since the fight scenes were handled in an over the top manner, especially when Dwayne sends people flying through the air with every punch thrown. When Idris Elba fights both Statham and Johnson with relative ease I could feel how ferocious his punches were and how carefully timed his tactics were. I was getting some serious Terminator 2 vibes when he came face to face with Johnson for the first time and threw him around like he was a small child. It is always nice to see a villain who is superior to our protagonists in every single way, that way it provides a lot of tension for our heroes, forcing them out of their comfort zone. I also thought Vanessa Kirby held her own along side Hobbs and Shaw in her combat scenes. I thought her fight scene with Hobbs was one of the best action sequences in the film and worth the price of admission alone.
Some Facts About Hobbs and Shaw
- The movie was supposed to open on Jason Statham’s birthday on July 26th but was moved to August because the director thought the quieter month of August would gain a bigger box office.
- There is a scene where WWE superstar Roman Reigns uses his trademark “Samoan Drop” and “Spear” which might give wrestling fans a chuckle. Dwayne Johnson even does the “people’s eyebrow” as an added Easter egg.
- A lot of Rock’s Samoan heritage is in the film near the end where Hobbs and Shaw need to get off the map and what better place to go than Samoa.
- There is a possibility for a new Universal Studios ride based on this film.
- Hobbs and Shaw is the first of many planned spin off movies. There is talk going around that the tenth movie will be the “Endgame” of the franchise in reference to the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- The film recently wrapped up shooting in mid February since they had to go back and re-shoot some scenes.
- It has been confirmed that Hobbs and Shaw will not be in F&F 9. It was stated that Johnson had taken over the franchise, so to compensate, the film makers decided to give the main actors of the F&F franchise their time to shine without Johnson and Statham.The movie was supposed to open on Jason Statham’s birthday on July 26th but was moved to August because the director thought the quieter month of August would gain a bigger box office.
In Conclusion
The film was a fun time at the movies and I would recommend anybody who is a big fan of the F&F franchise to give it a shot. I am not a fan of the franchise but I did enjoy this film for what it was. Don’t go into the movie expecting an intriguing story or anything like that, but do go in knowing that you are about to watch a balls to the wall action flick with great camera work, special effects, and superb chemistry between Hobbs and Shaw. Their scenes bickering back and forth between each other were the highlights of the film. The hand to hand combat scenes were breathtaking as well; giving every character their time to show how great they are at fighting. The villain was threatening but I don’t think Elba’s performance stood out as memorable other than his fight scenes. No disrespect to Elba, but I feel like his character could have been played by anybody. He was an overall generic villain who was a puppet for an even more dangerous organization. The evil organization is another thing I didn’t care too much for and when this mysterious voice pops up every once in a while to give Idris Elba a talking to, I didn’t get enough out of the organization known as Eteon to care much about their plan for humans to evolve. I feel like Eteon could have been handled in a better way, maybe hinting at how threatening the organization can be by showing how much control they have in the world, but I didn’t get a scene like that in this film. Instead, they are like an interface for Elba’s character whenever he needs an enhancement via injecting him with some kind of genetically modified serum, similar to Captain America. Other than that, the film did its job effectively and if you have nothing else better to do and you want to see some kick ass fight scenes then I recommend you to go out and see for yourself. Just don’t come to me and say the movie’s story was disappointing. I am going to give this movie three stars out of five! The chemistry between all the characters make the film an enjoyable ride from start to finish with zero boring moments. If you enjoyed my review then be sure to pass this article around on social media! I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!
The Great Critic 