Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 2 hours 15 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

IN A NUTSHELL:

This adrenaline-packed action comedy is extremely entertaining. I have 4 sons who would get a kick out of this movie. If you’re a Dwayne Johnson or Jason Statham fan (like I am), you’re going to love this fun flick. Directed by David Leitch, this movie is exactly what it promises: two macho men with tons of crazy action sequences and some beautiful, deadly women. Director David Leitch was a stuntman in John Wick and Atomic Blonde.

If you like the trailer, you’ll like the movie. I attended a screening in a theater in Utah that had a cool way to showcase scenes from the movie: two chairs were rigged to rumbling seats that reacted to the action sequences. That’s how the movie feels. Most people agree the movie is pretty ridiculous, but admit that doesn’t mean it’s not fun.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

LOTS of violence with a high body count and some blood.
Sexy women showing lots of skin and cleavage
Some profanity, including 1 F-bomb (2 if you count it that way because Hobbs & Shaw said it at the same time.)
Crime
Suggestive language referring to body parts and sexual relations
Bare-chested men
Some Samoan is spoken without subtitles.
Some kissing
Some men are tortured with electric shocks
LOTS of explosions and destruction
Name-calling
Alcohol and mention of drugs

THEMES:

Like all of the movies in The Fast and the Furious franchise, the theme of this movie is the importance of family.
“It’s never over til it’s over.” – Shaw (Jason Statham)
“Remember who you are.” – Shaw
“Never, never give up.” – Shaw
Home
Truth

THINGS I LIKED:

Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham have great chemistry together and have some hilarious banter. I always enjoy their over-the-top action abilities and comedic timing. I’m such a huge fan of The Rock especially.
The supporting cast is fantastic: Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, and Kevin Hart.
Dwayne Johnson’s actual cousin (Joe Anoa’i) plays his brother in the movie. He performs his signature wrestling movies “The Samoan Drop” and “The Spear” movie.
I got a kick out of the wake-up sequence with Hobbs & Shaw. I had no idea the entire movie would run on comparing their styles. So entertaining.
Fans of The Crown will enjoy seeing the lovely Vanessa Kirby play Jason Statham’s sister. That award-winning TV series is fantastic. The Crown Season 1 & 2 DVD SET / Season 1-2 DVD SET
Lots of impressive and funny fight sequences. Kudos to the stunt team. Wow.
Lots of humor.
Some funny Game of Thrones references. Game of Thrones: The Complete Seasons 1-7 (BD + Digital)
Lots of pop-culture references and Easter eggs for fans.
You don’t need to have seen any of The Fast and the Furious movies to enjoy this movie. It works as a stand-alone film. This is the 8th movie in the franchise but is really a spin-off.
Some cool spy gadgets
The soundtrack hits hard, just like the stars.
You get to visit London and Samoa.
The movie is very self-aware, which makes it even more humorous.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some might say this movie is filled with “toxic masculinity.” If overcharged testosterone bothers you, do NOT watch this movie.
The movie is certainly ridiculous and even cheesy at times, but that’s part of the fun.
Act 3 feels and looks really different from Act 1 & Act 2.
Some will complain the movie is too long but it’s actually about the same length of several of the other movies in The Fast and the Furious franchise. If you’re going to pay a bunch of movie at the theater, you want to get your money’s worth, right?

FUNNY LINES:

“Who the hell are you?’ – guy says to Hobbs (The Rock) He responds, “I’m what you call an ice-cold can of whoopa$$.” Another guy asks the same question to Statham and he replies, “I’m what you might call a champagne problem.”
“Do you know how hard that is, to stab someone with a brick?” – (Ryan Reynolds)
“Do you think I’m stupid?” – Shaw “Of course I think you’re stupid.” – Hobbs
“I did not see that coming.” – Hattie (Vanessa Shaw) “I wish I didn’t see that at all.” – Hobbs
“I just dreamt they killed you. I’m pretty disappointed right now.” – Hobbs

INTERESTING LINES:

* “The key to immortality is living a life worth remembering.” – Bruce Lee, quoted by Hobbs