Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

Derived from the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise, ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ is about two characters from that series who engage in non stop banter through this spinoff – all while attempting to save the world. They hate each other, but join forces to prevent a deadly virus with apocalyptic consequences, rather cutely called ’Snowflake’, from spreading across the globe. Through their teamwork, they keep insulting each other in the most juvenile manner. Even the villain of the movie (Idris Elba) taunts them, asking how they expect to defeat him, when they can’t even make the effort to get along together.

Apparently, previous bad blood, and present hostility, has ruined their friendship. But who really cares? This obsessive ribbing between action heroes Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) and Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is just one of the more random, and inadequately explained aspects of this very average movie.

Both the characters have backstories that are abrupt and thinly plotted. We see Deckard visiting his Mum, ‘Queenie’ Shaw (Helen Mirren), in prison. She says she rather enjoys the ‘retired’ life in jail, reading books and taking long walks. This is all very amusing, but we would have to go back to the franchise, to understand why she is locked up in the first place.

Apparently, Mum reared Deckard and his siblings on a diet of heists, and now even Deckard’s sister, Hattie Shaw (Vanessa Kirby), a major player in this edition, is involved in ingesting the virus, and saving the world – simultaneously!

Deckard, Luke and Hattie now form a triumvirate. They contact the mad Russian scientist, Professor Andreiko, who created ’Snowflake’ and get hold of an ‘extraction’ device to remove the virus from Hattie’s body. This delicate process gives Deckard yet another excuse to insult Luke. This time he accuses him of hitting on his pretty sister!

Thinly plotted, and filled with action sequences that are so repetitive that they look like replays or flashbacks, ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ is disappointing. Only one scene, involving a convoy of cars and a single helicopter, linked together with a chain, is inventive. It’s the only time you wake up to draw your breath.

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Ajit Duara