I have never watched, in whole or in part, any installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, so why did my Sweetie-wife and I go see this spin off from that popular series? The simple answer is we enjoyed the trailer. The joyous, funny, and decidedly over the top tone of the this movie’s preview promised the sort of ‘don’t take this seriously’ fun that can make for great escapist entertainment and that it is exactly what was delivered. We got what was listed on the tin. Now, the best frame of mind to enjoy this movie is not to go in thinking of it as an action film but to rather think of it as a super heromovie. The action, the stunts, the stakes, and the plotting are all much more in line with the lighter comedic styles of many modern comic book movies than anything as mundane as super spy James Bond. Approach Hobbs and Shawfrom that perspective and I think you’ll be ready to appreciate this enterprise.

The set-up of the movie is simple. Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) an elite member of the Diplomatic Security Service and Shaw (Jason Statham) a outcast outlaw are forced to work together when Shaw’s sister Hattie (Vanessa Kirby) an MI6 operative is framed for stealing a super virus capable of wiping out humanity when in fact she secured the sample to protect it from Brixton (Idris Elba) a cybernetic enhanced mercenary worked for the shadowy organization Eteon which has the goal of saving humanity by eliminating ‘the weak’ and taking control of the planet. On the run and pursued by this ‘black superman’ Hobbs and Shaw must work together and learn the meaning of family.

Directed by David Leitch who also helmed John Wick  and Atomic Blonde this movie is naturally heavy on fights, stunts, and action with an emphasis on comedic turns.  Both of the leads, Johnson and Statham, have shown the comedic chops and timing to carry the movie and joined by Kirby the trio is a powerhouse of charisma that carries the audience over and through the movie’s incredible story and sequences. Personally I am quite happy to see that Kirby is getting a wide variety of roles. She first came to my notice as Princess Margaret in Netflix’s terrific historical drama series The Crown and in everything else I have seen her in she has never disappointed. Idris Elba is much better served by this role than he was in the forgettable Star Trek: Beyond.

Over all if you can suspend disbelief and simply accept the wild premises and action Hobbs and Shaw  is an excellent entry into escapist fun.