Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham are just one part, but an enormous one at that—literally and figuratively—that made the last several Fast & Furious movies the most enjoyable of the series. When looking at the franchise’s landscape, it is hardly a surprise that for the series’ first spin-off, producers would shine the spotlight on those two later additions to “the family.” Their rapport is comedic, the banter is as bombastic as their fists of fury and that all-important cinematic chemistry is explosive.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw also has a trio of elements that are priceless additions to the joyride. They arrive in the form of an Oscar worthy thespian in Idris Elba, who embodies our villain Brixton, and the sublimely talented Vanessa Kirby—who portrays a “rogue” MI6 agent, who also happens to be Shaw’s sister Hattie. Then there’s the film’s director, David Leitch, the stuntman turned director who has dazzled us with action manna from movie heaven with Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde and John Wick.
The film commences in London with Hattie getting into the action immediately. Her MI6 agent is part of an elite force whose sole mission is to secure a weaponized deadly virus, so it does not fall into the hands of Brixton. She nabs the virus, yes, but in the process, her getting “out of Dodge” with every other member of her crew perishing is ripe for Brixton framing her for the death of her fellow agents and “stealing” the package. The call goes out to two of the best in the world at tracking folks who don’t want to be found and most importantly, bringing them in—dead or alive. The CIA and MI6 are working together on this one, so when Hobbs shows up in London ready to bag the bad guys, Shaw is none too pleased.
Their working genesis (at least with this story) brings a certain iconic phrase to mind about the enemy of my enemy is my friend. They are reluctant partners and part of the charm and comedic possibilities of Hobbs & Shaw lies in the duo having to rely on each other. Often in films, this type of dynamic feels forced or worse, conflict presented for the sake of conflict for our two heroes to iron out their differences. In Leitch’s actioner, it feels organic in the most brilliant of ways. Sure, it helps that the pair have had a couple of films where there’s a level of familiarity that each character has with the other that eases the process. But with what is laid out in Drew Pearce and Chris Morgan’s script, and executed by Statham and Johnson, it works well, and the entire endeavor is a summer popcorn movie filled with joy.
Now this is not the best in the Fast & Furious series. It is not the fastest nor the most furious. There are parts of the story that drag a little bit—not a good thing for a F&F entry—or any action flick for that matter. Yet it never feels long. The film never gives off the impression that it doesn’t know how to wrap things up (a pet peeve of mine with actioners). It is simply a case of some of the plot and character exposition throughout the late first act and second act that feel over thought and unnecessary.
Statham and Johnson are quite the action-comedy duo. That is not news to anyone who has witnessed their pure gold camaraderie in Fast & Furious 6, Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious. Their love/hate relationship never tires and in the hands of these two actors, they both can do anything collectively—from effortlessly tossing insults, mocking each other verbally and most impressively, non-verbally.
One suggestion for these two … I would love to see the two of them pair up in something that wasn’t connected to this franchise. Perhaps in a buddy cop movie or even something away from the law enforcement milieu, such as two brothers who learn that they’re related in a family comedy. Something …
Then, there’s Kirby. She kicks some serious butt and does something that heading into the film would have seemed utterly impossible and more realistically unlikely. The British actress steals scenes from her two male co-stars, both dramatically and in the myriad of action sequences. Her work is rich and varied. She effortlessly can go from Mission Impossible: Fallout to Netflix’s The Crown and then sharpens up those punches for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. It’s not an easy task to arrive in a franchise and make any kind of headway in terms of capturing audiences’ fancy. This is especially true in this case. She must come in and become the little sister of an established character within this series. Audiences must believe the sibling connection from two characters, as well as the fact that Helen Mirren Queenie’s is their mother. From what Kirby delivers (and Statham has been doing for several movies now), there is no question that these two young apples do not fall far from their mum’s tree. This is an actress whose name alone, now, will pique my interest in whatever film employs her gift.
Also, and no spoilers here, there are a few surprise casting coups that I honestly cannot believe have not been leaked before now. Like Kirby, they seamlessly fit into this world and here’s hoping that they pop up again in both subsequent Fast and Furious films as well as any kind of sequels to Hobbs and Shaw that could get greenlit after this flick prints its money this weekend.
Much of this credit has to go to director Leitch. He manages all aspects of the modern director job requirements naturally. His years as a stuntman surely helps, as does his keen and innate sense of what works and what doesn’t for an actioner … particularly one that has been revving its engines since 2001 with The Fast and the Furious. He also impeccably “coaches” his actors and does so in a manner that not only gets everyone on the same page but manages the production aspect of the gig in such a manner that the entire effort feels, well…effortless.
Grade: B