Review of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) by Healingtoolbox — 27 Aug 2019

8.5? Phenomenal cinematic aptitude, script and tonal control arranged by David Leitsch. This is the best retro-1990s blockbuster in years. Far ahead of any of the Fast & Furious entries, for me. As user reviewer, Proteus, comments, this is an unnecessary movie. The look and feel here remind me viscerally of Cameron's and Schwarzenegger's 1994 film True Lies. This is True Lies #2 in terms of look and feel.

Very few minor elements of Hobbs & Shaw reflect the zeitgeist of 2019. They are:

- respect shown to women,.

- respect shown to Idris Elba and Kevin Hart as black men, - honoring of Samoan culture - and the way the main macho male keeps telling characters, "I love you," in a sincere male way, not as a running gag. For those interested, in the Cards of Destiny, both Johnson and Schwarzenegger (Jack of Hearts birthday) have strong heart suit potentials.

Jason Stratham has no heartfelt brief to live up to but seems to enjoy endorsing true human values if a script calls for it. Neither asked nor addressed here is how would an action blockbuster express human values more reflective of our current zeitgeist? The Bond franchise has been ignoring this question for decades now. Of recent movies, only Wonder Woman and Alita: Battle Angel feel reflective of our time and place to me.