Hobbs & Shaw & Black Superman Make A Killin'

By Darlene Donloe

The summer box-office is sizzling with the August 2 release of Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw, a live-action, shoot ‘em up starring three of Hollywood’s certifiable cinema hunks.

It’s the trifecta of hotness as Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, and Idris Elba, affectionately called the Black Superman by Hobbs, heat up the screen as they wax comedic by injecting loads of off the cuff humor in between, during and after fight scenes and car chases.

Spinning off from the franchise, Hobbs & Shaw pays homage to Fast & Furious with its over-the-top chaos, big action, cool cars, and chill characters.

Elba’s swag engulfs the screen. Although he really feels and looks like a Black Superman, he plays anarchist Brixton Lore who has powers beyond what Hobbs and Shaw have seen. Others crashing the party are franchise newcomers Vanessa Kirby, WWE star Roman Reigns and John Tui, and several other new faces and family.

(l-r) Jason Statham, Idris Elba, and Dwayne Johnson

It’s no secret how this scenario is going to go. Hobbs has to save the world – again!  He has to do it by kickin’ ass and taking names. He has to do it by completing unbelievable stunts. He has to do it while cracking wise with his nemesis, Shaw. He has to do it while looking good. He has to do without getting any bruises. Here’s the suspend disbelief story.  

Ever since lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America's Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever — and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw’s sister — these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.

There’s so much unbelievable action that it’s hard to keep up.  Most of it is to show off the fighting skills of Statham and Johnson – whose muscles come into frame before they do.

This movie really is just an excuse to put these three superstars together.  It’s an excuse to showcase outrageous stunts, while wrapping a weak narrative around it. But, it’s ok, it works for a summer blockbuster.

Johnson, Statham, Elba and Kirby, who all work well together, turn in favorable performances. Elba is believable as a bad guy. He’s pleasingly evil and menacing.  Kirby holds her own in the action department. She’s completely adept at the art of the beat down. She’s a babe to be reckoned with. You don’t want to come up against her – as several bad guys find out the hard way.

Johnson and Statham are screen magic together. Their comical banter is funny. Their digs at each other seem authentically like sibling rivalry.  They even fight well together.

Helen Mirren, who plays Shaw’s mother, Queenie, only has a couple of scenes, but she makes the most of them. She’s always a welcomed surprise.  Another celebrity also makes a comedic cameo, but no spoiler here.

The big war at the end, that you knew was coming, takes place on the gorgeous island of Samoa. Lori Pelenise Tuisano is a fresh delight as Hobbs’ Samoan mother and Cliff Curtis is fantastic as his brother, Jonah.  Jonah is less than happy with Luke Hobbs, who hasn’t been home in 25 years.  There is a scene where Johnson, who is Samoan, does an authentic and traditional dance that is wondrous and emotional to watch. In fact, all of the “family” scenes are endearing. After the dance is over, it’s time to bring the pain.  

One of the good things about Hobbs & Shaw is that it doesn’t take itself seriously. All the audience has to do is sit back, take in all the action and enjoy the ride.

This is a great popcorn movie.

Fast & Furious Present Hobbs & Shaw stars Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Eiza Gonzalez, Helen Mirren, Cliff Curtis, Eliana Su’a, John Tui, Josh Mauga, Stephanie Vogt, Helena Holmes and Lori Pelenise Tuisano.

Rating:  PG-13 (for prolonged sequences of action and violence, suggestive material and some strong language)

  

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Fast & Furious Present Hobbs & Shaw (Universal Pictures) gets an O (oh, yeah).