Hobbes and Shaw Trailer: OKAY, BUT HE MURDERED HAN THOUGH

On paper, there’s a lot to love conceptually about Hobbes and Shaw (or, as my SEO might prefer, Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbes and Shaw). The Fast & Furious franchise overall has vastly improved from its early days of “dumber Point Break, but with cars” and transformed into something rather remarkable: one of Hollywoods last titanic, purely action based franchises. And it’s done it pretty well at it too! Since Fast Five these movies have been a bundle of action blockbuster fun, and far better than they had any right to be, really. So there’s no reason why Hobbes and Shaw couldn’t carry on the mantle. And with the surprising chemistry between Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson livening up every one of their scenes together in The Fate of the Furious, well? I’ve seen weaker pitches for spin-off titles, that’s for sure. Throw in the villain casting of Idris Elba (who alone makes every movie about 200x more enticing) and the hiring of John Wick/Atomic Blonde stalwart David Leich (who might be the most accomplished hand to ever grace this series, if you ask me), then you have a recipe for a pretty promising action movie.

…But two things. 1) The phrase “Fast and Furious Presents” is harrowing as fuck, no matter what avenue it is presented in and 2) THAT BASTARD KILLED HAN, THE PIECE OF SHIT. WE JUST GONNA PRETEND LIKE THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN? ARE WE JUST SUPPOSED TO LAUGH AT HIS LITTLE ANTICS AND JOKES AFTER HE EXECUTED ONE OF THE SERIES’ BRIGHTEST STARS? THAT IS SOME BULLSHIT RIGHT THERE.

*Ahem* That’s just my take on it, anyways.

The trailer is overall pretty well done though, and I especially like the use of the initial beats to War’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” A little on the nose, and somewhat played out (how many modern blockbusters have slightly offbeat trailers set to 60’s and 70’s pop songs? SO. DAMN. MANY. Blame Guardians of the Galaxy for that one, my friends), but still effective. I did, however, find the shift at the end a little strange, as the music motif is dropped and replaced with a standard “bombast” motif…only to be brought back again at the very end. Like commit to the song if you’re going to use it, you know? There’s also some kinda wonky CGI in parts, but that’s expected with trailers for movies like this, especially so early out.

But what am I trying to do, talking about editing theory and what not. This is the trailer for a freaking Fast and Furious for fuck’s sake, so let’s discuss the main attraction here: badass action movie money shots. And there’s plenty to chose from here, including The Rock using a big old truck bed to smash a bunch of smaller vehicles (like the world’s his own personal game of Twisted Metal or some shit), some good ol’ fashion drifting under semis (greatness from small beginnings…), and the general craziness of the last thirty seconds of the trailer (The Rock jumping from skyscrapers in increasingly ridiculous fashion is a fun new genre motif, huh?) And then of course all glory be to this moment of lunacy, which I captured in the below gif:

Yes, this franchise is still silly as all hell, but it seems to be totally self aware of what it is at this point. In fact, this trailer presents the film almost as an action comedy, with plenty of legitimately funny moments sprinkled throughout. And well some might scoff at that, I say lean into the cartoony cheese as much as humanely possible. I mean, my man Idris Elba has legit superpowers in this one! I love it, just love it.

And, frankly? I’m more excited about seeing the exploits of Hobbes than I am ANY of the other Fast and Furious characters. He’s by far the best one, and the rest of those fuddy-duddy bros can move aside as he takes his rightful place as a movie lead. Or co-lead, I guess. Co-lead WITH A GODDAMN MURDERER. WHO EXECUTED A CHARACTER WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC TO SEE AS ANOTHER LEAD IN THIS FILM, BY THE WAY.

YOUR JASON STATHAM CHARM ISN’T ENOUGH TO REDEEM YOU OF YOUR CRIMES, SHAW. YOU CAN SAVE AS MANY TORETTO BABIES AS YOU WANT, BUT NOTHING CAN POSSIBLY WASH AWAY THE HEINOUS, IMMEASURABLE CRIME THAT YOU COMMITED.

JUSTICE. FOR. HAN.

Hobbes and Shaw opens August 2, 2019.