Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: David Leitch, Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Cast: Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Helen Mirren.
Spin-off from a successful franchise, Hobbs and Shaw lives up to the Fast and Furious hype, with astounding stunts, high-voltage action, opportune humour and an enjoyable seesaw ride that keeps you in your seat.
Johnson (The Scorpion King, San Andreas) and Statham (The Transporter, The Meg) reprise their respective roles as Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw from the main series. Sworn enemies Hobbs and Shaw partner up to bring down cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton Lore (Elba) before he uses his control of a biological weapon to alter humanity forever. A former MI6 agent-turned-terrorist, Lore is a part-cyborg uber-soldier who befriends a stentorian supercomputer and leads a mysterious organisation known as Eteon. He wants to evolve the human race by wiping out its weakest links with a population-decimating virus.
The virus is nicknamed ‘Snowflake’, which has been shot into rogue MI6 agent, and Deckard’s little sister, Hattie Shaw (Kirby, The Crown, Mission Impossible – Fallout), who becomes the key to saving the world — and the focus of much of our heroes’ ensuing bickering.
While former wrestler Johnson – as Hobbs – has a brute force technique to eliminate targets, Statham’s Shaw takes on a refined approach, Kirby as Hattie Shaw holds her own and is commendable. Johnson and Statham’s forced chemistry is thrown into sharp relief by comedic cameos from Ryan Reynolds, as Hobbs’ clingy CIA pal, and Kevin Hart, playing a delusional air marshal. Of particular note is the rapport between Reynolds and Johnson.
However, the acting limelight is stolen by Elba; as a cybernetic enhanced superhuman hybrid, Brixton is capable of feats that push the boundary. Despite having such power, Elba’s restrain is clearly evident, thus preventing the film from becoming too over-the-top.
Helmed by Leitch (Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde) it’s easy to see how his professional martial arts training and background as a stuntman enable him to execute some rather difficult action sequences with accuracy. Leitch has taken advantage of the characteristic traits of Hobbs and Shaw to develop fight sequences that are well synchronised and flawless. Their chemistry works favourably.
While it is overly lengthy, it isn’t the plot that is the film’s mainstay. Instead, it is the eye-popping relentless action that is interjected with well-placed humour to break the monotony. Jonathan Sela needs to be commended for his cinematography finesse and visual presentation.
The two big chases – in London and the Ukraine – match expectations.
What is the nickname of the population-decimating virus? If your answer is correct, then you could be one of our two DVD winners of Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. Entries should be sent to [email protected] by Monday, 2 December 2019. Names of the winners will be announced in Frank Cassidy’s PS-sssst…! column on 3 December 2019.
This is the last giveaway opportunity through this column for 2019. Thank you to all our PS News readers for your unstinting support in 2019!
We look forward to sharing more amazing opportunities together in 2020.
Until then, have a happy and safe festive season during the last year of this decade.
