Hobbs & Shaw (Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Universal  
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Rating: PG-13
Film: 2/5
 
Plot
For years, hulking lawman Luke Hobbs and lawless outcast Deckard Shaw have traded smack talk and body blows. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton Lorr (Idris Elba; “Thor: Ragnarok,” “The Dark Tower”) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever, Hobbs and Shaw must partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.
 
My Thoughts
I’ve been a fan of most of the Fast & Furious movies, but this one turns out to be way too over the top. The story is weak, the dialog is cringe-inducing, and at 137 minutes, its way too damn long. Essentially, it’s a two-plus hour stunt show, which if that’s your thing you’ll probably enjoy it more than I did. Sure, it looks and sounds great, but the older I get I really need a story with some type of meat on it or I lose interest pretty fast. That’s certainly the case here.

Video 5/5 

Audio 5/5 (Dolby Atmos)

Special Features:

• Alternate Opening
• Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes
• Johnson & Statham: Hobbs & Shaw
• Progress of a Fight Scene with Director David Leitch
• Practical Action
• The Bad Guy
• The Sister
• Hobbs Family Tree
• The Matriarch
• New Friends
• Elevator Action
• Stunt Show & Tell
• Keeping it in The Family: A Conversation with Roman and Dwaine
• Blind Fury
• Dwayne and Hobbs: Love at First Bite
• Feature Commentary with Director David Leitch
• Blu-ray+ DVD + Digital Copy

 

 
Conclusion
If you have the ability to suspend all belief and completely check your brain at the door, you could probably have a good time with this film. Unfortunately, those days have passed for me and I swear I lost 10 IQ points in the 137 minutes I gave to this film. I’d be sure to give it a rental first unless you’re just looking for some brainless fun that features superior audio and video. Unfortunately, I got my request in late and couldn’t get the UHD to review, but based upon the look and the sound of the Blu-ray, the UHD should be just as spectacular.
 
Reference Review System:
 
 JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 88” 16x9 Fixed Screen
 Anthem AVM60 Audio/Video Processor 
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed ChannelsATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player 
 System Controller: URC MX-980
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
 HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
 SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer
JL Audio Dominion D110 Subwoofer x 2 (configured as tandem mid bass modules)
Mini DSP controlling all subwoofers
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[AVSCraig]

I thought this was a fun, " Fast and Furious " type popcorn actioner myself. The two stars obviously had fun doing this ( and Idris Elba is always good ). Not to be taken seriously, but those two are a hoot. And Vanessa Kirby isn't bad either. Good soundtrack too. The 4K disc looks excellent. 

The last Mission : Impossible had Tom Cruise suddenly learning to fly a helicopter " on the fly ". We don't watch these types of films for anything other then either fun entertainment or as system demo eye candy ( with some good one liners thrown in ). 

[AVSMike]

I like action films and enjoyed it, but then my wife says I will watch anything.  

[David Vaughn]

I thought this was a fun, " Fast and Furious " type popcorn actioner myself. The two stars obviously had fun doing this ( and Idris Elba is always good ). Not to be taken seriously, but those two are a hoot. And Vanessa Kirby isn't bad either. Good soundtrack too. The 4K disc looks excellent.

The last Mission : Impossible had Tom Cruise suddenly learning to fly a helicopter " on the fly ". We don't watch these types of films for anything other then either fun entertainment or as system demo eye candy ( with some good one liners thrown in ).

I probably would have been fine with it if it weren't so long. 

[AVSCraig]

I probably would have been fine with it if it weren't so long.

Movies that are too long seems to be common these days. John Wick 3 was good but they could have trimmed that down a by 20 minutes too. I have never gotten into the Godfather movies or even Casino, so 3 1/2 hours of The Irishman is a non starter for me - another one that's too slow / too long. 

[Paul Heroy]

Watched this tonight, though just from HBO. Ironically, I bought the 4K 8 disk set of the first movies even though I didn't really have a high interest in them, and enjoyed a few of them. Didn't care for them as much after Dwayne Johnson took over and they become much more blow stuff up action movies. My wife didn't watch much except in passing and didn't express any interest in them.

But then she said she wanted to watch Hobbs & Shaw. After a bit of incredulity and eye rolling I gave in tonight. And maybe it was the low expectations, but I found it pretty enjoyable mostly due to the high portion of humor. Ryan Reynolds & Kevin Hart added really funny parts, but even the constant bickering and one upmanship between Johnson & Statham was funny at times. The "heart" portion of the story is a bit contrived but it was still cool to see the Samoan family go medieval on the high tech evildoers. 

[AVSCraig]

It's just fun popcorn entertainment. I might even watch this today to test my new subwoofers!

[David Vaughn]

My wife decided she wanted to watch and action film tonight and chose this since she didn't watch it with me the first time. It was actually better the second time through because I kept my expectations low. Dialog was more tolerable (I just let myself laugh) but it's still too damn long. I'd bump the grade to 2.5 from the 2.0 I gave it the first time. 

[bmoney]

I def have lower standards than you guys lol

[AVSCraig]

My wife decided she wanted to watch and action film tonight and chose this since she didn't watch it with me the first time. It was actually better the second time through because I kept my expectations low. Dialog was more tolerable (I just let myself laugh) but it's still too damn long. I'd bump the grade to 2.5 from the 2.0 I gave it the first time.

It is a bit too long. But it is fun. 

[David Vaughn]

It is a bit too long. But it is fun.

I had more fun with it the second time, that's for sure, but if they trimmed a few of the fight scenes and ditched a couple of the extraneous plot lines it would have been a much better film. 

[AVSLaurie]

I absolutely love this movie; husband doesn't understand how I can sit there and watch Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and Ryan Reynolds over and over and over ...   Maybe he would understand it better if it starred Gail Gadot, Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johannson

Some of it is really over the top, but that's what makes it so much fun.