The Reel Review
In this spin-off from the Fast and Furious franchise, lawman Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and outcast Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-enhanced villain (Idris Elba) threatens the future of humanity. Vanessa Kirby (The Crown, Mission Impossible: Fallout) is Shaw’s estranged sis/MI6 agent trying to stop the end of the world.
For what it is – a brainless action movie with sexy car chases, loads of choreographed fight scenes and slow motion CGI set to blaring rock tunes – it gets the job done as an entertaining good time. The dialogue is insipid and the jokes are corny but none of that matters to its stars, who look like they are having the time of their lives, nor its target audience looking for a couple hours of easy, breezy, escapist fun.
REEL FACTS
• The idea for this spin-off emerged during the filming of The Fate of The Furious, which upset several of its cast members. Vin Diesel (as Executive Producer) reportedly cancelled some of Johnson’s scenes and co-stars Michelle Rodriguez and Tyrese Gibson criticized Johnson for pushing back the next, ninth installment by at least a year.
• WWE wrestler Roman Reigns (aka Joe Anoa’i) plays Hobbs’ brother in the film. In real life he and Johnson are cousins.
• Director David Leitch wanted to make sure this spin-off has a different look from the Fast and Furious franchise.
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