Shadows on the Wall | The Wrecking Crew

The Wrecking Crew

dir Angel Manuel Soto
scr Jonathan Tropper
prd Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Jeffrey Fierson
with Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Morena Baccarin, Roimata Fox, Temuera Morrison, Claes Bang, Jacob Batalon, Frankie Adams, Miyavi, Stephen Root, Branscombe Richmond, Maia Kealoha, Josua Tuivaralagi
release US/UK 28.Jan.26
26/US MGM 2h04

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Produced to a slick standard, this robust action thriller has an enjoyable mix of comedy and melodrama running through it, plus spectacular Hawaiian locations. Although, as the title suggests, pretty much everything gets demolished along the way by the genius beefy pairing of Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. Director Angel Manuel Soto leans into this a big, dumb movie about two big, smart men. And it's thoroughly watchable.

In Honolulu, Navy Seal Commander James (Bautista) is shocked when is estranged private-eye father is killed in a hit and run. Then his even more estranged Oklahoma biker-cop brother Jonny (Moma) travels to Hawaii for the first time in decades. Now the brothers need to get over longstanding grudges because the yakuza had something to do with their father's death. Soon, they uncover a conspiracy that involves property tycoon Marcus (Bang), a planned casino and an indigenous home-land. And things escalate toward a series of violent showdowns after Jonny's tough-minded ex Valentina (Baccarin) turns up.

This movie's body count is astonishing, as the filmmakers seemingly aspire to John Wick levels of brutality. Much more fun is the way the film continually plays on this duo's imposing physicality; the local police chief (Root) says James and Jonny "look like they eat steroid pancakes for breakfast". The plot relies on rather too many coincidences as these brothers stumble upon clues rather than cleverly locating them. Although this adds a nice seat-of-your-pants kick to the narrative.

With endless hard-man banter, these hulking actors rarely stop insulting each other. Both are terrific at injecting jagged wit into even the harshest dialog. And when the screenplay contrives to bring them to blows with each other, they maintain a surprising underlying emotionality. Surrounding cast members know to remain in the margins, although Baccarin and Fox (as James' wife) get some feisty moments of their own, and Morrison lends some gravitas in his role as Hawaii's governor.

With explosive carnage played for laughs, the elaborate action set-pieces are superbly well-staged and would have looked great on a big screen. Flashily choreographed battles involve armies of gun-toting security thugs and blade-wielding yakuza goons, and we never worry that anyone has a chance against this charismatic muscled-tattooed double-act. We also never doubt that a window won't be left ajar for a sequel, which we wouldn't mind at all.

themes, language, violence 28.Jan.26

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