Universal
The Fast and the Furious is such a curious franchise when digested as a whole. What started out as a Point Break rehash involving the world of street racing and crime spiralled into increasingly absurd espionage tales where your regular street racers suddenly became hackers, weapons experts, and so forth. The franchise embraced its stupidity and drove with it, and with the addition of Dwayne Johnson in part 5, the next following 3 instalments hurtled towards a billion dollar series.
With the 8th instalment, one aspect of the film stood out head and shoulders above the rest, and that was the unexpected chemistry between Johnson and part 7’s bad guy turned antihero, Jason Statham. That, coupled with reported tension between Johnson and Fast & Furious lead man Vin Diesel, gave rise to this here spin-off. What may have been a desperate grasp for audience’s dollar, has gestated into an instant classic buddy action comedy. Statham and Johnson sizzle together as the pair share hilarious jibes and one up each other when it comes to the physicality of the roles.
Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw sees Johnson’s Luke Hobbs reluctantly team with Statham’s Deckard Shaw in order to track down Hattie (Vanessa Kirby), an MI6 agent who has inserted a virus into herself in an effort to keep it from Brixton (Idris Elba), a rogue agent who has allowed himself to become an enhanced human in terms of strength and agility, dubbing himself “black superman”. Unfortunately, Hattie has been framed by Brixton for killing her whole team and stealing the virus.
What follows are a series of incredible action set pieces that involve well choreographed fights, stunning car chases, and explosions galore. The film is certainly an excuse for big summer fun, and delivers way more than anybody could have hoped. However, it also takes the time to develop it’s main characters and focus on family issues, but avoids the ‘family’ as that has become overused to the point of parody in its previous 8 brethren. Hattie is an excellent addition to the two strong headed leads who let their egos jeopardise missions, while even Brixton has the chance to clearly express his motivations.
When not overloading the senses with fast paced and unforgettable set pieces, Hobbs & Shaw packs on the laughs. There’s the previously mentioned verbal sparring, but the film also allows for cheesy action quips delivered with precision from the likes of Johnson, Statham, and Elba, and plenty of violent slapstick. David Leitch sits – well, probably jumped right out of, or stood on – in the director’s chair and brings all his vicious wisdom from the likes of John Wick and Atomic Blonde, as well as keeping tongue firmly in cheek.
Where the pacing stumbles is in an extended third act. Had the film reached its conclusion following a wonderfully tense and purposeful sequence, we’d be looking at a five star, 1 hour and 40 minute delight. Unfortunately the plot Macguffin is moved to a new locale and gives us a climax that is even too ridiculous for what came before. It isn’t entirely self destructive, still has a lot of laughs and thrills, but less really can be more.
Hobbs & Shaw is an unexpected contender for film of the summer. It revels in its identity and pushes it further than I thought was possible. In a world of cinematic universes, I’ll be first in line to whatever mission is up next. For pure blockbuster majesty, it can’t be beat. Offering thrills, laughs, absurdity, and more than one delightful surprises (avoid cast lists). It’s one of the fastest, arguably the most furious, and hands down the funniest, that this franchise has to offer.
Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw is now on general release.
