THE GIST: Trying to retrieve a weaponized virus, MI6 agent Hattie Shaw and her team are ambushed by cyber-enhanced Brixton. Hattie is the only one who survives, but is framed by Brixton, so she has to run. Hunted by Brixton and wanted by MI6, her only hope for aid comes from Luke Hobbs and her brother, Deckard, if they can find a way to work together that is.The positive reception of Dwayne Johnson in Fast Five and of Jason Statham in Furious 7 ensured their value to the franchise in all the subsequent episodes. Unfortunately, alleged enmity between Fast & Furious headliner Vin Diesel and Johnson meant that their characters were mostly kept at safe distance in The Fate of the Furious, the eighth chapter of the series so far.
A spin-off centered on Johnson and Statham then suddenly seemed like a good idea: there would be no need to involve the Furious cast of characters and the franchise could branch out and make more money.
The gamble paid off, as Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is a two hour adrenaline boost with touches of comedy and a few sentimental undertones.
Both Johnson and Statham know their way around action packed scenes, and Vanessa Kirby playfully keeps apace. Idris Elba plays the villain as effectively as any role he takes on. And let's not forget the wonderful Helen Mirren in another wonderful cameo.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The Furious franchise shows no signs of slowing down. A new chapter for the main series was supposed to come out this year (it's been delayed by the coronavirus), and the first official spin-off shows a lot of promise on its own.
Grade: 7
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