Much like the Marvel Universe, if you haven’t enjoyed a previous entry in this series then it would be fair to assume you aren’t going to get anything out of ‘Hobbs and Shaw’, as it is the craziest entry in the series yet. This statement may seem hyperbolic, but in a series where cars literally sky dived out of a plane, it is almost an impressive point for the film.

Coming in as the 9th entry in Universal’s ‘Fast and Furious’ blockbuster franchise, it also is the first to deviate from the main ‘Family’ of the series and is presented as a ‘Fast and Furious Presents’ branch of the series. Implying that we may see many more entries past the planned ‘Fast and Furious 10’. However, where is there to go once you jump the shark beyond no point of return?

The plot see two of the biggest starts from the series, Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson­) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) being tasked with locating Shaw’s sister Hattie (Vanessa Kirby) who has extracted a deadly virus into her bloodstream that could cause cataclysmic death to the planet. Hot on their heels is Brixton (Idris Elba), a superhuman robot hybrid who refers to himself as a ‘Black Superman’ who intends to take the virus for nefarious reasons.

The plot may seem insane, and yes it most certainly is, yet the film clearly is very aware of this to a point. It is as if the goal is to be a homage to the 80s action films, with constant one liners and over the top action that never seems to end. No more is the feeling of self-awareness most apparent when you note that the film was directed by David Leitch, who most recently was behind ‘Deadpool 2’. The film can feel very similar to Deadpool 2, especially in the way the action and humour plays out.

This plays into the film’s major weakness for me, by the time you get the 5th scene of droning music and very quick cutting action with large men screaming you quickly start to check out of what is going on in the story. Not that the plot is largely important here, but when both your heroes and villains are borderline invincible it is hard to latch on to something relatable to be invested in.

Both Johnson and Statham do a good job here, they know exactly what is expected of them and they deliver. They do a lot of punching and combine it with a whole lot of quipping, but they clearly have a great chemistry with one another that they can be a joy to watch.

If you are on the fence with this film let me present you with this, if a scene in which Johnson jumps from a skyscraper and begins to fight the bad guys who are also falling from said skyscraper, while he seems to defy every law of physic every conceived sounds like something you would enjoy then go see this on the big screen.

Director: David Leitch
Writer: Chris Morgan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby
Kyle Gaffney
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